MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - A suburban Milwaukee lawyer is under arrest, after he allegedly paid $400 to a police informant to buy guns that were said to be stolen.

53-year-old Thomas Michael Barrett of Wauwatosa was in jail at last word under a $15,000 bond.

The state’s online court records do not indicate that criminal charges have been filed.

Officials said Barrett was caught in a sting operation last week at the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, where an informant showed him two guns that were claimed to be stolen – but were actually props for the operation. Officials said he also bought a silencer for the weapons, which is illegal to possess.

Barrett was quoted as telling police he was a collector and an advocate of gun rights. He apparently claimed to have up to 20 collectible guns locked up in safes at his home.