March 2009 -
Hundreds invested in what was supposed to be the "safest community in America," a housing development built around a gun range near Pahrump.
For more than three years, the man at the center of that dream has faced unhappy customers in court, except Monday when he simply didn't show up.
A judge ordered the head of the Front Sight Firearms Training Institute to explain why he hasn't paid millions of dollars still owed to members who filed a class action lawsuit against the facility.
Ignatius Piazza however, was a no show Monday morning and his attorney confirms he no longer represents the Front Sight founder.
In a letter sent to members last October, Piazza announced he doesn't plan to pay the more than $5 million in refunds. The same letter calls class members like Erik Johnson back-stabbing saboteurs and bans them from the facility, an apparent violation of the settlement agreement.
Last month, the I-Team went along as Johnson attempted to take a class at Front Sight. Though he is owed some $200,000 and maintains two Front Sight memberships, staffers turned him away without explanation.
"Why get upset about it? Like I said, hopefully the District Court will enforce its order and we'll be back among friends again. But if it doesn't, I'll miss it," he said.
In an effort to enforce that order, the judge has set a new hearing date in May. Piazza must now appear to explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt of court.
In the meantime, next month the Nye County Commission is scheduled to vote on a new development agreement with Front Sight. The company still seeks to build a version of the safest community in America that investors like Johnson bought into so many years ago.
Ignatius Piazza
