DES MOINES, IA – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment on December 14, 2022, charging Adair Chief of Police Bradley Wendt with unlawfully acquiring and possessing machine weapons.
In response to unsealed courtroom paperwork, Wendt, age 46, exploited his place because the Adair Chief of Police to accumulate 10 machine weapons purportedly for the official duties and obligations of the Adair Police Division, however later resold a number of of these machine weapons at a major revenue. Wendt additionally acquired 13 machine weapons for his Denison-based gun retailer, BW Outfitters, by means of false statements to the ATF that the machine weapons have been being demonstrated for future potential buy by the Adair Police Division.
Wendt additionally exploited his place because the Chief of Police to acquire 10 machine weapons for Williams Contracting LLC, a federal firearms licensee operated by his buddy, Robert Williams, age 46, of Manning. Williams solicited false documentation from Wendt indicating the Adair Police Division needed an illustration of every of the machine weapons for future potential buy by the Adair Police Division.
Between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt sought to show or buy roughly 90 machine weapons for the Adair Police Division, which serves a city of lower than 800 individuals. Wendt and Williams hosted public machine gun shoots, the place they charged patrons cash to shoot machine weapons registered to their gun shops and the Adair Police Division. Wendt and Williams meant to stockpile machine weapons to later promote at a private revenue.
FBI Omaha Particular Agent in Cost Eugene Kowel mentioned “Brad Wendt is charged with exploiting his place as chief of police to unlawfully receive and promote weapons for his personal private revenue. The FBI is dedicated to working with our legislation enforcement companions to analyze and maintain accountable those that violate their oath of workplace to complement themselves.”
“This case demonstrates the significance of ATF’s vigilance in regulating federal firearms licensees and bringing to justice those that willfully circumvent federal legislation in favor of non-public revenue and abuse public belief. Right now’s indictment is the results of seamless collaboration by ATF and our legislation enforcement companions,” mentioned Fred Winston, Particular Agent in Cost, ATF – Kansas Metropolis Subject Division.
Each defendants are charged with conspiracy to make false statements and defraud the ATF. Wendt is charged with 18 counts of creating a false assertion to the ATF and one depend of unlawful possession of a machine gun. Williams is charged with three counts of creating a false assertion and aiding and abetting a false assertion to the ATF. The Indictment is connected under.
If convicted, Wendt faces a most time period of imprisonment of ten years. Williams faces a most time period of imprisonment of 5 years.
The prosecution is the results of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The investigation stays ongoing.
U.S. Lawyer 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 harmless till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a courtroom of legislation.
