Editors Note: The following press release is directly from ATF. Regular readers of AmmoLand News know our stance on the unaccountable Federal Agency: No comment. We invite our readers to leave their hard-hitting insights in the comments below.
DES MOINES, IA – -(AmmoLand.com)- A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment on December 14, 2022, charging Adair Chief of Police Bradley Wendt with unlawfully obtaining and possessing machine guns.
According to unsealed court documents, Wendt, age 46, exploited his position as the Adair Chief of Police to acquire 10 machine guns purportedly for the official duties and responsibilities of the Adair Police Department, but later resold several of those machine guns at a significant profit. Wendt also acquired 13 machine guns for his Denison-based gun store, BW Outfitters, through false statements to the ATF that the machine guns were being demonstrated for future potential purchase by the Adair Police Department.
Wendt also exploited his position as the Chief of Police to obtain ten machine guns for Williams Contracting LLC, a federal firearms licensee operated by his friend, Robert Williams, age 46, of Manning. Williams solicited false documentation from Wendt indicating the Adair Police Department wanted a demonstration of each of the machine guns for future potential purchase by the Adair Police Department.
Between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt sought to demonstrate or purchase approximately 90 machine guns for the Adair Police Department, which serves a town of less than 800 people.
Wendt and Williams hosted public machine gun shoots, where they charged patrons money to shoot machine guns registered to their gun stores and the Adair Police Department. Wendt and Williams intended to stockpile machine guns to later sell at a personal profit.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said “Brad Wendt is charged with exploiting his position as chief of police to unlawfully obtain and sell guns for his own personal profit. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who violate their oath of office to enrich themselves.”
“This case demonstrates the importance of ATF’s vigilance in regulating federal firearms licensees and bringing to justice those who willfully circumvent federal law in favor of personal profit and abuse public trust. Today’s indictment is the result of seamless collaboration by ATF and our law enforcement partners,” said Fred Winston, Special Agent in Charge, ATF – Kansas City Field Division.
Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to make false statements and defraud the ATF. Wendt is charged with 18 counts of making a false statement to the ATF and one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. Williams is charged with three counts of making a false statement and aiding and abetting a false statement to the ATF. The Indictment is attached below.
If convicted, Wendt faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years. Williams faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The investigation remains ongoing.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikaela Shotwell and Ryan Leemkuil are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Kansas City Field Division
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.
“The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who violate their oath of office to enrich themselves.”
Too bad they’re not committed to holding accountable those who violate their oath of office by enforcing unconstitutional laws like the ATF.
Or those in the FBI … like basically all of them … and their masters in DC who violate their oaths every single day….
GMTA
PROBLEM…PSYCHOPATHIC CONTROL FREAKS RULE US. https://courageouslion380.substack.com/p/problem-psychopathic-control-freaks
Don’t be too quick to slam this fool. Selling machine guns not on the transferable list by May ’86 (post-sales samples) is illegal and Wendt has to answer for that. But most ranges that rent machine guns are using sales samples that the local CLEO signed off on. This could be the first step by ATF to prosecute and shut them all down. Where I live that would be more than half the gun stores with indoor ranges.
You can bet on it. They’re searching for ways to screw us or they wouldn’t have stumbled onto this.
When two idiots collide and the rest of us pay
Sounds very reasonable. Your attitude should be cloned, bottled and become the standard drink for all current and potential political operatives to consume.
Who did this guy think he was? A District of Criminals Democrat?
I attended one of the machine gun shooting events put on by this guy. Damn he had some nice hardware.
consider: they make possession of “machine guns” illegal, then wonder why folks still want them to the point they are willing to pay enormous amounts of money to get them, then make every effort to fiind out who has them so they can prosecute them.
Just think: if they never had been made illegal there would be far less crime involving them and a lot less for these generally useless federal employees sucking our tax dollars to play this form of charades. Nothing like a make-work scenario to justify one’s overly inflated salary and position of power.
Only correction is that police do not pay enormous amounts for machine guns. With “blue line specials” and the like I suspect an m16 or G18 cost them no more than we pay for an AR15 or G17. While police need to register with NFA, I don’t think they have to pay the tax stamp. Would guess approvals are fast tracked to weeks instead of the year the rest of us face.
So fun being a second class citizen clinging to my second class rights.
Observation point: Ammo is loaded wrong, links face up, loaded as shown will immediately cause a malfunction
Another victimless crime. Greedy folks for sure . Violated law that shouldn’t be on the books anyway.
“shall not be infringed”
They did nothing wrong. Everyone should be able to do what they did.
Well, back before 1968 – we all could. Shoulda, coulda, woulda doesn’t keep you out of court nowadays.
With a township of 800, he probably was the ENTIRE department.
Maybe the FBI should have looked into the ATF.
No way to defend WHAT? The ATF and FBI or the guys participating in free enterprise?
They know/knew the law. They are so arrogant as badge wearers, they figured they could do what the rest of us cannot. Pay the piper time now.
Free enterprise at its best! Who was the VICTIM? Show me a VICTIM and I’ll show you a crime. These two guys are the only victims I can come up with from this article. Victims of two out of control agencies tasked with violating SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED!
That “SAW” is improperly loaded, the belt is upside down. This weapon system would not function.
“When photo ops go wrong…”
IT was put in that way for effect. It looks prettier with all that shiny ammo showing rather than those dark ugly links.
I think links are beautiful.
….except for when you kneel on one.
Helloooo A.T.F, (helllllo, NEUMANN).
Unfortunately I don’t think they’ll change their mind
Oopsie….hits home. I know Wendt. In the yesteryear, have bought guns, accessories from his BW Outfitters….. full autos…NOT!!! Guess won’t be buying from them again……:( 🙁 🙁
Greedy, and dumb as dirt. Lots of cops buy SMGs and select-fire guns “for the job”, but did these idiots really think no one would notice this?
if you depend on the Federalist Wire for accurate info, you need help. A LOT!
I wouldn’t be throwing stones if I were you considering you believe whatever Wayne LaPierre says.
Lmao..that Federalist Wire is in fact a paranoid hermit’s dream. I bet it’s the new digital method of disinformation – much like the Agency(Clowns In Action) used the Anarchist Cookbook -fake edition – to get domestic terror groups to blow themselves up in basement labs back in the 70s and 80s. I had just finished the SFQ Course as a 12B-SF certified NCO in late 81, our instructors were showing us how the Agency boys had gotten Paladin Press to alter the chemical ratios and mix methods for improvised demo etc…what a hoot. On the lefty side of things –… Read more »
How many of you cheered like hell when that traitor Ollie North was voted in to the NRA? That piece of trash was the sellout of the decade – a piece of garbage globalist RINO. Of course, I have a bias against the Jarheads anyway. I tried to get into the Marines but, alas, I scored way too high on my ASVAB testing back in ’77. Ended up spending 30 years, Army SF – never did have to insert my head into a pencil sharpener and charge the beach
A law enforcement officer corruptly abusing his position for personal gain??? I’m shocked.