Wanted Man Tried to Buy Multiple Guns at Stroudsburg Store While Fugitive

Tyler Thomas Brown now faces two separate felony cases for August 2024 incident at Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters; remains at large one year later

STROUDSBURG, PA — On August 7, 2024, at 3:09 in the afternoon, Tyler Thomas Brown walked into one of Monroe County’s oldest sporting goods stores and tried to buy multiple firearms.

There was just one problem: Brown was already a wanted man.

Court records show Brown had a previous arrest and an active warrant at the time — meaning he was legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms in Pennsylvania. He allegedly lied on the federal background check paperwork anyway.

Now Brown, 38, of Effort, faces two separate felony cases stemming from that single afternoon at Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters on Main Street. He has been wanted since June 2025. Police have issued multiple warrants. He remains at large more than a year after allegedly walking into a federally licensed firearms dealer while fugitive status should have made him a prohibited person.

And nobody else is reporting it.

Two Cases, Same Afternoon

The Pocono Review has identified two separate criminal dockets filed against Brown for the August 7, 2024, incident — each with different charges, different docket numbers, and warrants issued one week apart.

Case 1: Magisterial District Judge Kristina Anzini issued an arrest warrant on June 24, 2025, charging Brown with materially false written statement in firearm transfer, a third-degree felony, and statement under penalty, a third-degree misdemeanor.

Case 2: Judge Anzini issued a second arrest warrant on July 1, 2025, charging Brown with sale or transfer of firearms (6111(G)(4)(II)), a third-degree felony, and unsworn falsification to authorities, a third-degree misdemeanor.

Both cases list the same offense date: August 7, 2024. Both list the same location: 585 Main Street, Stroudsburg — the address of Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters.

The charges in the second case are more serious. Section 6111(G)(4)(II) of the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act specifically prohibits making false statements to obtain a firearm, and applies when someone who is legally barred from gun ownership attempts to circumvent the background check system.

Combined, Brown faces up to 14 years in prison on the felony charges alone if convicted.

The Background Check System

When Brown walked into Dunkelberger’s that August afternoon, federal law required the store to run his information through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before completing any sale.

According to the Stroud Area Regional Police criminal complaint, Brown “attempted to purchase several firearms and provided misinformation.” The complaint states he “had a previous arrest and an active warrant which prohibited him from purchasing or owning a firearm in Pennsylvania.”

Under federal law, anyone who lies on ATF Form 4473 — the Firearms Transaction Record required for all gun purchases from licensed dealers — commits a federal felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Pennsylvania law adds state charges on top of that.

The system appears to have worked: Brown did not walk out with any guns. But the fact that a wanted man felt comfortable walking into a gun store and attempting multiple purchases raises questions about how he expected to pass a background check in the first place.

The Five-Month Gap

There’s another wrinkle in the timeline that raises questions.

Brown allegedly attempted to buy firearms on August 7, 2024. But according to the SARPD Crimewatch posting, police weren’t asked to investigate until January 8, 2025 — more than five months later.

“On 01/08/2025 Stroud Area Regional Police were requested to conduct an investigation at Dunkleberger’s Sports Outfitters on Main Street in Stroudsburg,” the posting states.

Why the delay? The Crimewatch posting doesn’t say. Neither does the criminal complaint. Dunkelberger’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It’s possible the store flagged the transaction at the time and the ATF or Pennsylvania State Police conducted their own investigation before referring it to local police. It’s also possible the store didn’t realize Brown was wanted until months later. Without access to the full investigative file, the reason for the gap remains unclear.

What is clear: It took SARPD six more months after that January request to file charges. The first warrant wasn’t issued until June 24, 2025 — nearly a year after Brown allegedly walked in and tried to arm himself.

Dunkelberger’s: A Local Institution

The store where this allegedly happened isn’t some fly-by-night operation.

Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters has been a fixture in downtown Stroudsburg since 1972, when founder Jere Dunkelberger opened a one-man shop on North 6th Street. The business has since grown into a 6,000-square-foot operation in a restored historic building on Main Street, carrying hunting and fishing equipment, camping gear, firearms, and outdoor apparel.

The store holds a Federal Firearms License (FFL) from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, license number 8-23-089-01-5J-03041. As a licensed dealer, Dunkelberger’s is required to verify the identity of all firearms purchasers, run background checks through NICS, and maintain detailed records of all transactions.

The store also operates a second location on Route 209 in Brodheadsville.

What Made Brown Prohibited?

The criminal complaint states Brown had “a previous arrest and an active warrant” that prohibited him from firearm ownership. But it doesn’t specify what those were for.

Under Pennsylvania law, a person is prohibited from possessing firearms if they:

Have been convicted of certain crimes, including felonies and some misdemeanors
Are subject to an active protection from abuse (PFA) order
Have been involuntarily committed for mental health treatment
Are a fugitive from justice
Are an unlawful user of controlled substances

The “active warrant” language suggests Brown was already a fugitive when he walked into Dunkelberger’s. Under federal law, fugitives from justice are automatically prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms — full stop.

The Pocono Review was unable to locate court records identifying what Brown’s prior arrest was for or what warrant was active against him in August 2024. SARPD did not immediately respond to questions about the underlying charges that made Brown a prohibited person.

Still At Large

Brown has now been wanted for nearly six months on the June warrant and nearly six months on the July warrant. His photograph has been posted to Monroe County Crimewatch. Police have asked the public for help locating him.

His last known address is in Effort, an unincorporated community in Chestnuthill Township, approximately 15 miles west of Stroudsburg.

Brown is described as a white male, 38 years old (DOB: May 25, 1987), 5’10”, 215 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Stroud Area Regional Police at (570) 421-6800 or submit an anonymous tip through the SARPD Crimewatch page.

The Charges

If apprehended and convicted on all charges in both cases, Brown faces:

Case 1 (MJ-43201-CR-0000190-2025):

Sale or transfer of firearms, 18 Pa.C.S. § 6111(G)(4)(II) — F3, up to 7 years
Unsworn falsification to authorities, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904(B) — M3, up to 1 year

Case 2 (warrant issued June 24, 2025):

Materially false written statement in firearm transfer — F3, up to 7 years
Statement under penalty — M3, up to 1 year

The charges could also trigger federal prosecution. Lying on ATF Form 4473 is a federal felony under 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6), punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has made straw purchases and falsified background checks an enforcement priority in recent years.

CASE REFERENCE

Defendant: Tyler Thomas Brown, 38 DOB: May 25, 1987 Last Known Address: Effort, PA 18330 Physical Description: White male, 5’10”, 215 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes

Case 1:

Charges: Sale or transfer of firearms (F3), unsworn falsification (M3)
Warrant Issued: July 1, 2025
Status: Active warrant, awaiting preliminary hearing

Case 2:

Warrant Issued: June 24, 2025
Charges: Materially false written statement in firearm transfer (F3), statement under penalty (M3)
Status: Active warrant

Offense Date: August 7, 2024, 3:09 p.m. Location: Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters, 585 Main Street, Stroudsburg Investigating Officer: John D. Miller, SARPD Issuing Authority: MDJ Kristina Anzini (43-2-01)

Brown is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Related Coverage: WANTED: Effort Man Faces Felony Charges for Lying on Firearm Paperwork (November 21, 2025)