ATF ARREST 14 IN MULTISTATE OPERATION

www.atf.gov ^ | 05/25/2004 | ATF Press Release

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

ATF Agents Arrest 14 In Multistate Operation

RENO, Nev. -- John A. Torres, Special Agent In Charge of the San Francisco Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced today that ATF agents in California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah and Washington State participated in the arrests of 14 people after a federal grand jury returned indictments charging them with federal firearms violations.

All of the defendants were charged with dealing firearms without a license, illegal sales of firearms, possession of unregistered firearms, and possession of firearms by prohibited persons. One of those arrested, Laquan J. Abdulrahim of East Palo Alto, Calif., was also charged with possession of body armor by a violent felon, the first time a defendant in Nevada has been charged with this federal violation. This charge alone carries a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison.

Dubbed "Operation Over The Line," the year-long investigation into the illegal purchasing and trafficking of firearms ultimately led agents to individuals in three other states. During the course of the investigation, more than 400 firearms were seized with dozens more to be retrieved in the near future. ATF undercover agents purchased approximately 30-40 firearms from various individuals, including some that were illegal. The agents purchased firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) as well as unlicensed dealers.

"Although some of these transactions took place at various gunshows in Nevada, a minority group of people chose to use gunshows as a conduit to conduct their illegal activities," Torres said. "The gun shows were not the target of our investigation."

In addition to the arrest warrants, agents served a federal search warrant at the residence and business of Larry B. Reimer, of Pahrump, Nev. Reimer was arrested pursuant to the grand jury indictments. Reimer, a licensed firearms dealer, was charged with the illegal transfer of a semiautomatic weapon and the illegal sale of a firearm. These charges carry a maximum penalty of five years each in federal prison.

Among the items recovered at another search warrant location in Nevada were a number of firearms, including machine guns, as well as explosive materials.

Torres praised the Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff's Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol, California Highway Patrol, the West Sacramento Police Department and the California Department of Justice for assisting ATF in this investigation.

"ATF will continue to reduce illicit firearms trafficking by investigating individuals who provide firearms to prohibited persons, who deal without a license, and who sell firearms illegally. Working with our state and local partners toward this endeavor will keep firearms out of the hands of criminals," Torres said.

More information on ATF is available at www.atf.gov.

###

Note to Editors: Media seeking additional information should contact ATF PIO Nina Delgadillo at 775-784-5251 or via her pager, 888-533-8597.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

BUMP

[Lawgvr1955]

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

[steplock]

Here is a PERSONAL result of ATF tactics of this operation:

Hello All:

Many of you are wondering why we choose now to "retire" from the gun business, and some of you have heard something about "ATF problems" we're having as well. Here's the truth.

April 23rd (8:30 PM), while we were at the Reno Gun Show (show was closed at that time - we were in the Hotel), the ATF preformed a Search Warrant on our tables at both the show and our business premises in Coeur d'Alene. They confiscated over $150,000 of firearms from both the locations, and all our paperwork from our store.

They seized me at gun point, told me that this was being preformed because of "credible witnesses" claiming that I was (and I quote) "building and selling - illegally - machine guns and silencers in the North West".

They released me to immediately return home and await their instructions.

Upon meeting with the local ATF agents in CDA that week, I was (again) told that I was supposed to be a mean, nasty, evil, criminal anti-government, anti-ATF person and they wanted me out of business and possibly criminally prosecuted as well.

One week later, I was informed that after scrutinizing all our paperwork and the guns they had seized, they realized that I wasn't a criminal as they thought and that the allegations were false.

But they still want ALL our guns they stole and us out of business. Those guns are all we have left.

I am asking for your help.

We've managed to scrape together a few thousand dollars to hire a local lawyer, but that won't last long.

What we need is for you guys to see if you know anyone who can (and will) help us. I need lawyers, Generals, Governors, Senators (all have done business with Survival Enterprises) and anyone else that can "pull some strings" to get this crap handled.

Money for our legal defense fund wouldn't hurt either.

I have been refurbing and selling highly collectable firearms for 20 years. I have never had any problem with the ATF or any other law enforcement agency.

If any of you feel you want to help Survival Enterprises (and I) stay in business, please contact me.

Thanks

Kurt Wilson CEO
Survival Enterprises
http://www.survival.com.mx
kurt@se1.us
(800) 753-1981

---

The ATF has been putting my family and I thru Hell since April 23rd. We were complying with their paperwork requests (we had to do a compliance check on our business) and working ourselves sick, then OUT OF THE BLUE the following happened (go to the ATF's website please):

http://www.atf.gov/press/fy04press/field/052104sf_multistate.htm

The local US Attorney (who is upset about all this - she was kept out of the loop) knew nothing about this high-handed arrest, nor would she have condoned it.

We need help. I have a lawyer, but he is overwhelmed. He's never dealt with this kind of treachery, half truths and out right lies he's been getting from the ATF. The ATF has already told him my wife will probably get off, but they want to send me to jail. Period. Plus they want me to meet with them this Tuesday and do a "Off The Record Proffer" wherein I "come clean", tell all I know (I know nothing) about "things" (they won't be more clear) and they promise (in the first sentence of the agreement) to not hold anything against me I may say, but (in the second sentence) they say the WILL hold me liable for anything they find out from what I say (??? double speak?)

Can you help? or do you know anyone who would be willing to help? We haven't much money, as the ATF took all our firearms (except 12 we had unassembled at the shop). We need help ASAP.

Hopefully,

Kurt Wilson

Survival Enterprises
4368 W. Seltice Way
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814
cell (208) 699-7494
store (208) 676-8554

[umgud]

Yup, this is rilly rilly big! A whole yearlong investigation produced 14 arrests.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Note to Editors: Media seeking additional information should contact ATF PIO Nina Delgadillo at 775-784-5251 or via her pager, 888-533-8597.

Mebbe we should call agent Delgadillo and ask her to keep an eye out for the terrorists the government says is about to attempt to kill us in high numbers.

I know gun owners that haven't otherwise killed nobody are important, but....

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The ATF is merely trying to justify it's existence. It should have been abolished since the Waco debacle.

[Ken H]

*

[Lawgvr1955]

This is only friendly advise. I don't live in your state and don't know the particulars of your case. Consult your private attorney.

It sounds like you have been given the "standard" proffer letter from the FedGov. It usually has 8-12 provisions in it. At one point they say that they will not use what you told them in their case in chief against you. That is usually the only thing that they are prohibited against in using the statement. That means that they won't be able to use the information as a confession against you in their case in chief at trial. They can use the statement against you, for example, if you take a contrary position at trial or testify or seek to introduce evidence at trial that is contrary to your statement, etc.

Speak with your local counsel.

[Lawgvr1955]

I once had a bumper sticker shortly after Waco that read, "Is Your Church ATF Approved?". (If the Government approves of your religion, your structure is a "church". If the Government doesn't approve, the structure is referred to as a "compound".)

There were so many mistakes made at Waco, ones head spins. Yet how many in the government lost their job or were disciplined? NONE.

[AdamSelene235]

[taxcontrol]

"possession of unregistered firearms"

Ok, I'd like to open a legal debate.

Let us suppose that I individual had both the skills and equipment required to manufacture a firearm (unfortunately I have neither) and decided to follow some known revolver or pistol design and made their own personal weapon. No paperwork is filed with the ATF or license obtained.

Now it would appear at face value that the individual would be in direct violation of the previously quoted possession law. However, it is my understanding that the basis for federal laws to regulate fire arms derives from the commerce clause of the Constitution.

If the individual who made the weapon did not sell, rent, lend, lease or transport the weapon across state lines, would the be any basis by which the feds could arrest this individual?

I know this is somewhat of a "if a tree fall in the woods...." type of question but it is point worth debateing to me.

[supercat]

If the individual who made the weapon did not sell, rent, lend, lease or transport the weapon across state lines, would the be any basis by which the feds could arrest this individual?

Actually, this poses some interesting statutory issues even beyond the constitutional ones. A collection of parts that can be turned into a machine gun in less than eight hours using common machining equipment is legally considered to be a "machine gun". This raises some interesting questions as to when a "machine gun" is considered to be created (epsecially since by that definition a Volvo could be considered a machine gun).

Of course, the BATF doesn't care what's legal or not--just what they mildly dislike or severely dislike.

[Atlas Sneezed]

One of those arrested, Laquan J. Abdulrahim of East Palo Alto, Calif., was also charged with possession of body armor by a violent felon

---

Abdulrahim is one out of 14 mostly dopey white guys who live in rural areas, yet somehow ABDUL gets his name in the ATF press release.

The ATF couldn't be using this "terrorism" thing to increase their own profile, cound they?

Nah.

[Indie]

There were so many mistakes made at Waco, ones head spins. Yet how many in the government lost their job or were disciplined? NONE.

And how many of us did anything to stop it. NONE. We are all guilty, and I pray next time, we stand..once and for all.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Wilson's is always the FIRST table I go to at that show. I bought a pistol from him the morning of his ordeal. Thankfully, that is a bit more money in his pocket, and one fewer gun to fall into the hands of the JBTs.

[Ken H]

If the individual who made the weapon did not sell, rent, lend, lease or transport the weapon across state lines, would the be any basis by which the feds could arrest this individual?

Well, according to the plain language of the Commerce Clause, absolutely not. However, the New Deal era gave us a new concept called "substantial effects".

That is, any intrastate activity that could have a substantial effect on interstate commerce was now subject to Federal rules and regulations.

The infamous Wickard v Filburn case said that the feds could sanction a wheat farmer for growing wheat for his personal use. If every wheat farmer did that, it would have a substantial effect on interstate commerce.

Bottom line, I'd guess you would be subject to Federal law, even though an honest reading of the Constitution says you are within your rights.

I'm not a lawyer and the preceding is just my opinion.

[heckler]

There was a court case dealing with this about a year ago. The defendent was manufacturing machine guns completely from scratch. He did not buy parts,sell parts, or sell completed weapons. He was cleared of all federal charges because the court ruled that the feds had no jurisdiction because it did not involve interstate commerce. The guys still in prison though because he was convicted of trying to hire some one to murder the original judge who convicted him. The case was out of New Mejico or Arizone I believe, dont remember the name of the guy though.

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

A collection of parts that can be turned into a machine gun in less than eight hours using common machining equipment is legally considered to be a "machine gun". This raises some interesting questions as to when a "machine gun" is considered to be created (epsecially since by that definition a Volvo could be considered a machine gun).

Under this definition everyone is a murderer. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms are just a bunch of bully thugs.

[MileHi]

If the individual who made the weapon did not sell, rent, lend, lease or transport the weapon across state lines, would the be any basis by which the feds could arrest this individual?

NO. But that wouldn't stop them...