The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Michael Johnson, was taken into custody after a traffic stop.
Background
The investigation into the alleged illegal manufacturing of assault weapons began in 2020, when the California Department of Justice (DOJ) received a tip about a possible operation. The DOJ launched an investigation, which involved collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The trader, who was not licensed to sell firearms, was caught in the attempt to sell a silencer without proper authorization.
The Inspection and the Discovery
The inspection was conducted by a team of experienced field representatives from the Bureau of Firearms Regulatory Compliance Unit. These representatives are trained to identify and enforce compliance with federal and state regulations regarding firearms and other regulated items. The inspection was routine, with the representatives checking for proper licenses, permits, and documentation. The representatives were conducting a thorough examination of the vendors and their products when they overheard a trader attempting to sell a silencer. The trader was not licensed to sell firearms, and the silencer was not properly registered. The representatives immediately stopped the sale and notified the trader that they were under investigation.
The Investigation and Charges
The investigation that followed was thorough and meticulous. The representatives gathered evidence, including documentation and witness statements, to build a case against the trader. The trader was found to have been selling silencers without proper authorization, which is a federal offense.
A copy of the criminal complaint can be found here and here.
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