Undercover Probe Of Nevada Gun Shows

[another48hrs]

May 21, 2004
14 Arrested In Undercover Probe Of Nevada Gun Shows

(Reno-AP) -- Federal undercover agents working gun shows in Nevada the past year have arrested 14 suspects on charges ranging from dealing firearms without a license to illegal possession of machine guns and explosives.

Authorities for the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and local law enforcement joined together in Reno today to announce the success of "Operation Over the Line."

They say they have apprehended 13 men and one woman in five Western states -- Nevada, California, Utah, Idaho and Washington.

All were charged in Nevada, unless otherwise noted:
-- Laquan J. Abdulrahim, 30, of Palo Alto, Calif., four counts possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; one count possession of body armor by a violent felon, one count possession of a firearm by a person under indictment.

-- Bronshae L. Alexander, 28, of Las Vegas, three counts possession of a firearm and ammunition.

-- Doug Brown, 59, of Longview, Wash., one count dealing in firearms without a license, three counts illegal sale of a firearm.

-- Hugh Johnson, 40, of Salt Lake City, one count unlawful dealing at an out-of-state gun show, one count unlawful selling of a firearm to out-of-state resident.

-- Philip Bert Johnson, 62, of Reno, Nev., one count dealing in firearms without a license, three illegal transfer/sale of a firearm.

-- Ronald Louis Margiot, 62, of Reno, Nev., four counts illegal sale of a firearm, one count dealing firearms without a license, two counts possession of a machine gun.

-- William McFadden, 21, of Sacramento, Calif., one count receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment.

-- Michael Wallace McIlvaine, 32, of Dayton, Nev., possession of a machine gun.

-- Danny Peterson, 45, of Salt Lake City, one count knowingly making false entry into records, one count unlawful selling of a firearm to out-of-state resident.

-- Lamar Reid, 24, of East Palo Alto, Calif., one count possession of firearm while under domestic violence restraining order.

-- Larry B. Reimer, 41, of Pahrump, Nev., one count illegal transfer of semiautomatic assault weapon, one count illegal sale of a firearm.

-- Kurt Wilson, 52, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, four counts unlawful dealing at out-of-state gun shows, three counts unlawful selling of a firearm to out of state resident, one count possession of a machine gun. Also charged in Idaho with possession of unregistered firearm.

-- Angie Wilson, 53, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, three counts possession of unregistered firearm, charged in Idaho.

U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden of Nevada says nine of the suspects were arrested after search warrants were served today while five others already were in custody as part of the ongoing investigation.

They've been indicted by federal grand juries in Nevada and Idaho. The indictments, some dating to February, were unsealed today.

John Torres is the ATF special agent in San Francisco in charge of the investigation. He says agents purchased nearly 40 firearms using different Reno gun shows as the hub of activity. The agents purchased guns over the past year at about ten gun shows, one in Las Vegas and the rest in Reno, including at least one large events held at the Reno Hilton hotel-casino.

The guns include eight machine guns, ten hand guns and 15 long guns.

All were purchased in Nevada and many of them at gun shows.

http://www.kvvutv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1886994&nav=2NiwNKN6

 

[strambo]

Hmmm, that's quite a big loophole...5 States, one year and a whopping 14 arrests.

 

[atek3]

WEAK. I knew Reno was probably crawling with JBT's but I didn't know it was that bad. Uh oh, I've said "JBT" quick someone grab FedDC to stand up for these fine ossifers keeping such hardened thugs off of our streets.

-- Hugh Johnson, 40, of Salt Lake City, one count unlawful dealing at an out-of-state gun show, one count unlawful selling of a firearm to out-of-state resident.

How dare he do such naughty stuff. I hope they put this guy in the slammer for life...might have to let out a few rapists early, but hey, small price to pay to win the war on 'illegal guns'.

atek3

 

[Wildalaska]

Uh oh, I've said "JBT" quick someone grab FedDC to stand up for these fine ossifers keeping such hardened thugs off of our streets.

Why wait for him...Ill say it..good job guys, hope ya make it stick...

WildbadapplesineverybunchAlaska

 

[angrywalkindude]

-- Michael Wallace McIlvaine, 32, of Dayton, Nev., possession of a machine gun.

What about the 9th Circus Court ruling? I checked Nevada is in the 9th district.

 

[atek3]

9th circuit ruling only covered "homemade machineguns".

atek3

 

[angrywalkindude]

9th circuit ruling only covered "homemade machineguns".

That's about right.And that' what I get for thinking.:banghead:

 

[DMF]

No need to wait, another LEO will jump in.

Maybe you missed this:

-- Laquan J. Abdulrahim, 30, of Palo Alto, Calif., four counts possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; one count possession of body armor by a violent felon, one count possession of a firearm by a person under indictment.

-- William McFadden, 21, of Sacramento, Calif., one count receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment.

-- Lamar Reid, 24, of East Palo Alto, Calif., one count possession of firearm while under domestic violence restraining order.

But hey, some of the arrests mentioned may SEEM relatively minor, so let's see what enforcing 18USC922, and other parts of Title 18 and 21 of the US Code really does to protect people:

FOUR BALTIMORE MEN INDICTED IN
MURDER-FOR-HIRE SCHEME AND DRUG CONSPIRACY http://www.atf.gov/press/fy04press/field/051304bal_solothol.pdf

OPERATION WHAT'S COOKING http://www.atf.gov/press/fy04press/field/051204tam_operwhatscooking.htm
"PENSACOLA, Fla. - In this investigation which started in April of 2002, the Panama City Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bay County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office have been investigating clandestine methamphetamine laboratories . . . Several of the targets of this organization were already convicted felons, had previous arrests for drug trafficking and were known to carry firearms in the furtherance of their illicit activities. Thus far the investigation has resulted in the seizure of a number of labs in Florida and one in Georgia, the arrest of 41individuals and the seizure of more than 100 firearms. It has also led to the recovery of approximately $100,000 in stolen property and the discovery of a marijuana grow of more than 200 plants."

ONE FELON SENTENCED, ANOTHER PLEADS GUILTY
TO ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARM http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/news2004/shipp.sen.pdf
"On Nov. 20, 2003, Shipp pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. By
pleading guilty, Shipp admitted that he was in possession of a Harrington and Richardson Top
Break .32 caliber revolver on Nov. 16, 2001. Under federal law, Graves explained, it is illegal for
anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
Shipp has a 1992 criminal felony conviction for robbery in Jackson County, Mo . . .By pleading guilty, Nelson admitted that he was in possession of a Highpoint rifle on
Feb. 12, 2004. Under federal law, Graves explained, it is illegal for any felon to be in possession
of any firearm or ammunition. Nelson has a 2003 criminal felony conviction for trafficking."

SPRINGFIELD FELON SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING FIREARM http://www.atf.gov/press/fy03press/field/112602chi_springfieldfelon.htm
". . . Court records reflect Brewer was convicted on September 30, 1998, in Sangamon County for aggravated battery and unlawful use of weapons . . ."

FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM
SENTENCED FOLLOWING JURY TRIAL http://www.atf.gov/press/fy03press/field/060903kc_mcallsen.pdf
"The jury found McCall guilty of being in possession of a Smith & Wesson .32 caliber
revolver, a Maverick 12 gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, a Stevens .22
caliber rifle and a J.C. Higgins .22 caliber rifle on Feb. 15, 2002. Under federal law, Graves
explained, it is illegal for any felon to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. McCall
has three prior criminal felony convictions for robbery, manslaughter and drug possession."

///SARCASM/// Damn JBTs are harrassing harmless and innocent people by enforcing 18USC922. ///END SARCASM///

 

[atek3]

Here's a crazy idea: Instead of sending people, some good, some bad, to jail on charges for activities that hurt NO ONE, send them to jail for activities that DO. Do I feel safer that some husband is in jail for getting conned into an illegal sale to an ATF agent? NO, should you, NO! Will we be taxed 31k per year to house and feed this guy in the federal pen while the country is running a 500 billion dollar federal deficit, you bet your tax increases we will!!!

I had to cut this message short as the exclaimation key on my keyboard broke.

atek3

 

[Reno]

No need to wait, another LEO will jump in.

I guess 3 out of 14 ain't bad for the feds.

 

[DMF]

Here's a crazy idea: Instead of sending people, some good, some bad, to jail on charges for activities that hurt NO ONE, send them to jail for activities that DO. Do I feel safer that some husband is in jail for getting conned into an illegal sale to an ATF agent?

Let's see people committed felonies before, and as a consequence are PROHIBITED from possessing firearms. That law helps prevent crimes by arresting previously convicted felons for possessing a firearm BEFORE they hurt someone else.

Husband? Marital status doesn't figure into this. Propensity to commit felonies does. Recidivism rates are extremely high for people previously convicted of crimes. Rather than wait for "activities" (crimes) that do hurt someone, using 18USC922(g) the government can PREVENT the those "activities."

It's simple you commit a felony one of the consequences is losing the right to bear arms, just like they lose the right to vote.

 

[atek3]

I guess 3 out of 14 ain't bad for the feds

what's the old saying, "close enough for government work?"

atek3

 

[DMF]

I guess 3 out of 14 ain't bad for the feds.

I guess you decided to skip this part of my post, ". . . some of the arrests mentioned may SEEM relatively minor . . ." You see I emphasized SEEM, because the press release isn't a detailed indictment containing relevant facts supporting the arrests. There may be much more to the story. I highlighted those three arrests because the story showed that they were far from being innocent people.

Read the press releases I posted. Enforcing 18USC922 helps protect us from violent felons.

 

[DMF]

BTW, to all those getting all riled up about the feds, read the story again. People are being indicted on STATE charges, and local LE also made arrests. This isn't just a fed issue.

 

[GSB]

Let's see people committed felonies before, and as a consequence are PROHIBITED from possessing firearms. That law helps prevent crimes by arresting previously convicted felons for possessing a firearm BEFORE they hurt someone else.

Actually all it does is drive a thriving black market for guns for the recidivists, which results in more theft from honest people, and harms that certain percentage of EX-felons who have done their time for a crime in accordance with the law and now actually are reformed and wish to rejoin AMERICA with its peculiar notions of Natural Rights of Man.

 

[Langenator]

Here's the ones that I find really odd:

-- Bronshae L. Alexander, 28, of Las Vegas, three counts possession of a firearm and ammunition.

-- Michael Wallace McIlvaine, 32, of Dayton, Nev., possession of a machine gun.

-- Angie Wilson, 53, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, three counts possession of unregistered firearm, charged in Idaho.

I realize a newspaper report isn't a complete documenting, but possesion of a firearm and ammuntion? And I thought machine guns were legal in Nevada. And I didn't realize that Idaho required guns to be registered.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

DMF siad: That law helps prevent crimes by arresting previously convicted felons for possessing a firearm BEFORE they hurt someone else.

I think the Federal Government needs to establish a Department of Future Crimes (The DFC?), where DMF will be put in charge of telling us who the people are who will be committing crimes in the future, and he can arrest and charge them with those crimes BEFORE they happen, for the good of society at large.

 

[flatrock]

If gun shows are attracting criminals that are trying to purchase guns that they can't legally obtain, then it seems appropriate that the police make a reasonable attempt to try and arrest those who are breaking the law.

The gun shows I've been to lately have a strong police presense. I don't have the slightest problem with that. Maybe some of the police will actually learn more about guns while they're there.

 

[Dr.Rob]

What exactly is "unlawful transfer of a semi automatic assault weapon"?

And are guns registered in Idaho??

As in 'posession of an unregistered firearm?'

In Colorado guns aren't registered, and our "AW" ban in Denver was revoked, not that many folks paid attention to that law anyway.

 

[standingbear]

you know what has me confused?why officals continue in their thinking that place more restrictions on guns are going to have any effect on criminal behavior.take something...anything..and restrict it or ban it and guess whats gonna happen.who does it affect?the legit collector,sportsman and hunters.it does little or nothing to deter criminal behavior...in fact..it encourages it.cash is king..or so Ive heard.

 

[Tamara]

Dr. Rob,

What exactly is "unlawful transfer of a semi automatic assault weapon"?

Someone sold a gun with a bayonet lug made after 9/94 to a mere mortal.

 

[444]

"What exactly is "unlawful transfer of a semi automatic assault weapon"?
"Someone sold a gun with a bayonet lug made after 9/94 to a mere mortal."

That could be it, or possibly since the show was in Reno, maybe he sold an "assult rifle" to someone that legally couldn't possess it; like someone that lives in California. Or maybe it was a rifle marked "Law Enforcement Only"



I know that guy personally. I shot in a machine gun match with him last weekend. He is also the host of the famous monthly "Desert Buffet Shoot". You can see countless pictures of it on the net at places such as the Hometown section of AR15.com and several other sites. In fact, we were talking about him and the DBS shoot on a thread on this board within the last month.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80766&highlight=Desert+Buffet+Shoot

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=189198

 

[Reno]

DMF said:

I guess you decided to skip this part of my post, ". . . some of the arrests mentioned may SEEM relatively minor . . ." You see I emphasized SEEM, because the press release isn't a detailed indictment containing relevant facts supporting the arrests. There may be much more to the story. I highlighted those three arrests because the story showed that they were far from being innocent people.

If the ATF is involved, you can be sure that the majority of it is overblown and trumped up.

 

[Telperion]

DMF wrote:

Enforcing 18USC922 helps protect us from violent felons.

Speaking generally and substantively to this case, how?

Have you read all of 18USC922? It seems to be more about creating a legal minefield for the law-abiding.

 

[Gunpacker]

Ain't they got better things to do??

Not to be critical of anyone, but I just wonder if there isn't something more important to do like going undercover and trying to infiltrate or locate some terrorist cells. I am not afraid of terrorists obtaining guns at a gunshow, cause they can bring them in by the shipload for their own purposes without detection if desired. However I just think that all our law enforcement agencies need to examine their priorities. Our country is not in danger from gunshows but sure is from other problems that really need all the manpower that can be mustered. I just think that a federal agency that is spending time on things like this at this time in history is simply an agency trying to do "make work", appear useful, and leaders biding time to make retirement. Seems like there are better ways to spend all the useful manhours and trained personnel. Seems like the even the agents would recognize their poor utilization. Doesn't matter how brave or dedicated they are. They can't do really useful work if not directed to. I think it is another example of the people of the country being let down by bureaucrats.