Gordon H. Dawson of El Cajon, California, United States was 50 years old when he and three others were charged by federal prosecutors in 1991 with trafficking in illegal firearms and ammunition. He is a businessman who studied automotive mechanical repair and business at the American Business College in Chicago, Illinois, USA from 1981 to 1982.
The other three were William “Bill” Lee Schmeck, 27, of Santee, California, Peter Michael Scherer, 23, of Alpine, California and Herschi Perry Excell, 23, of Vista, California. The identity of a fifth suspect, a U.S. Marine Corps member in Okinawa, Japan, was not immediately released.
Gordon Dawson
Dawson worked for Center City Ford Leasing in San Diego, California from February 1981 to February 1988. He joined Solar Turbines in San Diego as a quality test technician in November 1988.
In 1990, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Naval Investigative Service and the San Diego Sheriff’s Office started to run an undercover investigation. On April 15, 1991, federal agents with search warrants seized a virtual arsenal that allegedly belonged to Dawson, Schmeck, Scherer, Excell and the fifth suspect.
The agents found flares, grenade launchers, plastic explosives, rifles and shotguns that were all for sale. In particular, an automatic weapon, two flares, six grenades and eight assault rifles were found at Dawson’s house in El Cajon.
On April 16, 1991, Dawson, Schmeck, Scherer and Excell pleaded not guilty at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Barry Ted Moskowitz. Bail was set at $270,000 for Dawson, who was charged with six felony firearm counts.
El Cajon, California
Appropriately named after the Spanish phrase meaning “the box” or “the drawer,” El Cajon is nestled entirely within a vibrant valley surrounded by majestic mountains. Situated roughly 15 miles east of downtown San Diego, this bustling inland city serves as a primary hub for the county’s East County region, offering an distinct alternative to the coastal landscape.
Because of its unique topography, El Cajon experiences a true Mediterranean climate with significantly warmer summers than its coastal neighbors. This climate historically anchored its past as a rich agricultural center famous for citrus groves and vineyards. Today, it has grown into a diverse, multi-cultural suburban metropolis with a deeply resilient community identity.
The city boasts several notable regional attractions, including Gillespie Field—a historic, bustling general aviation airport—and The Magnolia, a beautifully renovated performing arts theater that anchors the downtown area. Featuring a lively main street filled with diverse international restaurants, seasonal car shows, and family-friendly parks, El Cajon seamlessly pairs a rich historical foundation with a dynamic, forward-looking community spirit.
CONAN Daily 