Posted on 05/07/2020 8:11:00 AM PDT by piasa
A 25-year-old Columbia college student has been arrested after federal agents said they discovered he had fraudulently obtained dozens of firearms and more than 23,000 rounds of ammunition. The man, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday, had also researched mass shootings on his computer.
Edward Daniel Kimpton Jr. has been charged with federal wire fraud, mail fraud and possession of machine gun violations. In a complaint filed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, agents said Kimpton, a student at Midlands Technical College, had used a complicated scheme to obtain weapons, ammunition and tactical gear without paying for them.
According to the investigating agents, Kimpton would use false names to contact online sellers in several states about purchasing firearms and other goods. He would agree to make a purchase and use an electronic payment platform to complete the order. The sellers were in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, Washington state and South Carolina.
After he took possession of the item, he would contest the sale, saying he never received it. Kimpton was therefore able to keep the purchased good and receive a refund, agents said. The fraud began in June 2018, according to the complaint.
By the time of his arrest, Kimpton had amassed 90 firearms, including semi-automatic and tactical weapons. He had more than 23,000 rounds of ammunition and five bump stocks, along with firearm scopes, tactical helmets and other gear, gas masks, gas mask filters and body armor.
ATF agents also found that Kimpton had searched the internet three times for the firearms used in the Santa Fe school shooting, one time for the shooter and two times for “gas mask shooting.”
He also appeared to have visited websites with content about mass shootings in Charleston and Florence, agents said.
Kimpton was in custody and could not be reached, and it was unclear on Wednesday who was representing him in the case.
What state is this in? There are lots of states with towns or cities of Columbia.
It is refreshing to see an unbiased, matter-of-fact report by a journalist. No politics, no pontificating, no spin, no virtue-signaling, just information.
Something stinks here. Firearms in interstate commerce must go through a Federally licensed dealer so that the proper paper work can be completed
South Carolina.
Look at the key words... it is a South Carolina paper.
Well, I would lay money on odds that this guy is a Lefty.
How many firearms and ammo do you need to commit a mass shooting? After purchasing that amount, you are just calling attention to yourself, and just have an unhealthy obsession.
The paper is SC, so I think that it is safe to assume SC.
I’d initially assumed the Columbia involved was the NY university, and do sympathize with the lack of a state identification.
Well, he was using false ID so maybe he has friends in the various states involved. A gang, perhaps?
Follow the link and you learn the paper is in South Carolina
hoarding disorder
In Texas that would be considered a good start on a collection.
Exactly. No need for 90, just a good one that won’t jam. It’s an odd story.
After he took possession of the item, he would contest the sale, saying he never received it.
I’m calling BS. Unless the Seller sent a gun directly to him, then there’s no way he could contest the sale and not pay for it. I’ll go out on a limb and say that about 99%(or more) of the online transactions conducted by REAL gun owners/dealers/etc, with regards to firearms, said firearm will be sent to an FFL. At that time, the check will be done. So there’s no way he could contest that he never received the gun.
As is normally the case, there probably is way more to the case than what is written in the article, until then, something smells.
A 25 YO College Student can afford this type of cash outlay? 25K rounds and 90 weapons don’t come cheap!
I’m not buying that he was working alone. SOMEONE was funding this.
Probably 0bama or Holder and Soros. ;)
It doesn’t say he planned on committing one only that he was interested in the subject, for whatever reason, and researched the various shootings.
Exactly. And if he had to go thru a licensed dealer, how could he claim he never received them?
Unless he himself was a licensed dealer, or the dealer was in cahoots with him.
I’m amazed he got so many before being caught. Stupid crime, but then again - arrested criminals are not often known for their high IQ.
I don’t know about the guy reported on here.
But on FR I am seeing owning 90 firearms mentioned as hoarding or a disorder?
Y’all new here?
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