Small town Iowa police chief charged with lying to ATF to get 90 machine guns for department with 3 officers
BY Herschel Smith1 year, 10 months ago
A small Iowa town of 800 residents likely has no need for a police force armed with 90 machine guns to keep the peace.
That, at least, is the view of federal prosecutors, who on Wednesday announced the indictment of Adair Chief of Police Bradley Wendt on charges of making false statements to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to obtain numerous machine guns over a four-year period on behalf of the Adair Police Department, which during Wendt’s tenure has never had more than three officers.
Instead, according to prosecutors, weapons were resold for profit through Wendt’s private gun store or another store owned by a friend who also is facing charges.
According to court filings and a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Wendt used his position as police chief to obtain 10 machine guns for the official use of the police department, but later resold at least six of those weapons for “significant profit.”
In addition, Wendt obtained 13 guns for his Dennison- and Anita-based gun store, BW Outfitters, under the pretense they were to be used as demonstration models for potential future purchases by the department. Another 10 weapons were obtained in the same manner for Williams Contracting, a business Williams owned that is federally licensed as a firearms dealer.
Prosecutors say Wendt sought to purchase or demonstrate approximately 90 machine guns between July 2018 and August 2022. Some of the weapons were used for public machine gun shoots, where Wendt and Williams charged customers money to be able to fire the weapons.
The indictment describes the firearms as fully automatic weapons not legally available to the public, including an M60 machine gun, a belt-fed weapon widely used by the U.S. military since the Vietnam war that was purportedly obtained for official use by the Adair Police Department.
Wendt also sought repeatedly to obtain for the department a rotary M134 minigun capable of firing 50 rounds per second, usually mounted on military helicopters. The ATF denied the requested transfer.
“The Adair Police Department does not own a helicopter,” the indictment notes.
Wendt is charged with 18 counts of making a false statement to the ATF and one for unlawfully possessing a machine gun. Williams is charged with three counts of false statements and with aiding and abetting. Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of at least 35 machine guns involved in the case.
“Brad Wendt is charged with exploiting his position as chief of police to unlawfully obtain and sell guns for his own personal profit,” Eugene Kowel, a senior FBI agent based in Omaha, said in a statement. “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.”
Well, that last part is a pregnant bit of prose, yes?
So no doubt he wanted to enrich himself. He’s corrupt like so many other LEOs. But if the FBI is so committed to hold those accountable who violate their oath of office, how about those ATF agents who violate the 2A?
For whatever reason, Matthew 7:3-5 comes to mind.
There is a solution to all of this, of course. Undo the infringement of the NFA, GCA and Hughes Amendment. Then no one will be able to enrich themselves this way by selling machine guns.
On December 15, 2022 at 11:54 pm, PGF said:
The fact that LE can simply contact the feds and get armed with mraps, machine guns, light tanks, and all manner of battle gear should be a huge red flag. Who, precisely are they going to war against…in Iowia?
On December 16, 2022 at 7:39 am, Joe Blow said:
Why doesn’t anybody like or trust the cops anymore?!?!? Jeeeeze, can’t imagine.
…. oh, but small town American cops aren’t like that….
Saw exactly this at the local gun range one time. Pointed out to the 5 gentlemen that full auto was not allowed at this range, their feathers got ruffled and they thought it would be a good idea to try and intimidate me. I told them we would get a representative from the club to discuss the matter right here and now, and they packed up their shit and left.
But really, why does everyone call cops orcs and hate on them so much lately? Can’t understand whats changed….
Police your own you asshats. Golden Rule applys equally to all.
On December 16, 2022 at 8:53 am, ragman said:
We are dealing with corruption at all levels in this country. Starting with the illegal occupier of our White House and ending with corrupt local cops and politicians. And everything in between. I’m amazed that the country functions at all.
On December 16, 2022 at 9:31 am, Latigo Morgan said:
I would love to read a story like this to find out the police chief or sheriff was arming his constituents as a militia. Yeah, I know – hopium.
On December 16, 2022 at 10:31 am, Paul B said:
Disband the ATF and the FBI. Neither agency was stood up by congress so they can be dissolved with the stroke of a pen. Let US Marshall’s get the money and maybe we will get some equal enforcement of laws.
On December 18, 2022 at 10:13 am, X said:
But… but… the politicians told me that “weapons of war don’t belong on our streets.”
Why do the cops need machine guns, then? Let’s restrict every single domestic police agency, including all Federal agencies, to 12 ga. pump-actions and .38 revolvers.