Owner/MGR of Sporting Clays Club Busted

The owner / mgr of Blackjack Sporting Clays Club was carted away after the Florida Sporting Clays State Shoot -- he was taken off the premises in handcuffs by Federal Authorities--He was under a 5 yr, 5 month sentence for mail fraud & embezzlement.
He was appended by Postal Enforcement & the Secret Service

It is the place that is home to the worst trap field.

You can look up the particulars under the name Richard Barrett Dale Walker

 

When this Walker guy came to one of our Shotgun Club meetings looking for Donations so he could build a set of combination fields for "US Club Members", some of the guys, along with the club put up some serious bucks so they would have a great, close by place to shoot.

The Sporting Clays and 5 stand are state of the art at Blackjack, so most thought this guy would do good for them and the club. He promised by October of 2019 these fields would be operational. Fast forward to October 2020 and it was finally in place but only one combo field for Skeet and Trap, and no back grading has yet to be done. Trap house sits in a huge open hole in the ground, Speakers don't work, the cheapest, terrible Pro-Matic trap that could be had sitting on a wooden workbench, just a low ball operation at best. Yep, really a class act ~~~

AND just where did the supposed 50 Grand of donations go ????? Sure wasn't in this combo field mess.

I had mentioned to some of these guys way back when that I didn't like the idea of someone coming in and wanting money to put up a field, and then charge $8.00 + tax per round to use the facility.

I didn't contribute, and after being down there, I am glad I smelled a RAT from the beginning. It is too bad, this could have worked out well if a chiseler had not been in charge.

I do know and have seen a contract this guy had with 635 G because of the high amount of money he donated for this field. 635 G's money got almost nothing that was stated in the contract such as a Pat Trap, and other things.

Now the truth is out about this guy. My only hope is the Feds don't come in and take possession of this whole operation. From what I am told, This guy posed as the OWNER, but was NOT, just a manager.

Time will tell.

 

And I was planning on going there. Thanks for posting.

 

Wouldn't the tax records show the owner? Public info here in Manatee Co.

 

If the Fed's take the place over, it will go up for public auction some time in the future. IF HE WAS ONLY THE MANAGER THE CLUBS PROPERTY IS MOST LIKELY SAFE. Do a little research and find the true owners of the place, then plan ocordingly. 635G should contact an attorney seeing as he has a legal contract. Rogwer C.

 

Walker claimed to be Owner/Manager, but we are now finding out he was not the owner. There are a couple of people (owners) behind this operation and it was said anyway that this Walker guy was just the Manager so the Feds will probably NOT take the operation over. From my understanding, 635G has talked with the REAL owners and working something out with them.

As I stated, The Black Jack Sporting Clays and 5 stand are a class act within itself. It is the horrible mess of the Trap and skeet field that is so upsetting to us.

 

Spoke to the owners, they are commencing a forensic audit-the amount invested by 23 individuals totaled $55K--I willing to bet the mgr & the "builder" were working together and getting a hand in the pie--the clubs never purchased any traps, they leased them--

 

Here are pics of the $55,000.00 fields

Walk out to the pads in standing water and mud, and at best a target may come out when the puller actually is paying attention because the speakers won't work.

Don't even know how wide the house is yet either...I Was not allowed to go and measure it...How about You Phil ?

Whew, could have been nice...BUTTTTT ~~~

 

could not bring up pics

GB.........................................DLS

 

Gary click on the faint baige color

 

Gotcha, trap house is too narrow does not meet ATA Specs.

GB.............................................DLS

 

Did you ever here a contractor use the phrase, "Quick and Dirty"?

Unfortunately this job could be the poster for that type of work.

 

I can only add that This embezzler sure left a Shit Hole For people to shoot at.

Sorry, but that's the best description I can give of that mess. Speakers STILL won't work, grading is horrible, walking in mud whenever it is moist, trap mounted on a wooden workbench, Cheapest trap Pro-matic has to offer.

And yes, I have not measured the trap house or elevation of the trap to the shooters pad but thing sure don't appear correct.

I have reservations about ever going back. I have been told I should not shoot more than 25 shots a day by my Docs, and this won't bother me a bit after TRYING to shoot at that place.

And YES, 635 G, and the Club and Club Members who put up all that money sure got the Shaft !

Ask 635 G about the Shells he had in reserve (They Were HIS ! ) for him stored at this place. My understanding is the Embezzler sold them out from under him also.

 

What cracks me up is this guy has been in Florida his whole life. He did a crappy job when he was at TM ranch, catfish creek. Why did they think he would be a stellar manager at Blackjack?
I have seen several good shooters get management jobs at clubs and fall in their faces.
Gun clubs are a business and need to be run as such.
You can always hire a club pro

 

Looks like that trap house might make the minimum of 7’6”

 

I measured it 8' 2"; however its TOO f'n high--I had a 3' steel rule on a walkway, leveedl a pistol with a green laser, to the rules top & the green dot was about 1' below the roof of the house, also they are currently throwing White Flyer Blackout Sporting targets, TOO Heavy & TOO Dense

Its a sporting clay club , they don't give a rat's ass about trap--the only good thing is ,its a 13 minute drive and in FL thats great

 

I does look high and you’ve confirmed it. How is the trap in relation to the pads. Looks like it could be a little high to.

 

Dale has been around SC a very long time. He does an excellent job at starting up as he did at several other SC ranges. He was also the importer of Clever & sole importer of SAGA shotgun shells. Unfortunately, in my view, he doesn't manage things well beyond the startups. That's just him. Yes, his conviction was just & fare & he did plead guilty to the Federal charges. He did surrender himself to the Feds at the time given. Just as an FYI 50% of the embellishment was from a family member. I can't justify his crime nor how he has left many SC, trap & skeet shooters, some without pay & some without a proper field to shoot on. So now Dale sits in a Federal Hotel for the next 5 years plus. My guess when he gets his freedom he will be abandoned by most.

 

I have no personal knowledge about prisons (jail, a few times) , but I was told by a few friends of mine if you have to go to prison hope it is a Federal prison because things are much nicer there and the food is a lot better as if being in prison can be nice in any way ... One of the Politico's I know said it was like a Country Club but fenced in ... He did 7 years for Bribery ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Its nickname was "Club Fed" Bernie Madoff is spending his retirement in one--If you're down on your luck, broke ,need health care,
rob a bank in name only--wait for the concierge staff in blue uniforms-plead guilty and ask can I get a room with a view !!!