by Lee Williams
Each Friday afternoon the ATF sends out press releases from its 25 Subject Divisions – huge cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York and 22 extra. Customers have to enroll to obtain the emails, which often describe the arrests the ATF claims it made through the week.
By far the overwhelming majority of the actions described within the press releases – the arrests and the investigations – weren’t the results of any work by the ATF. The arrests have been made by native cops who discovered a stolen gun or seen that their suspect was a convicted felon and mustn’t have possessed a firearm.
The ATF is often introduced into these investigations solely after the arrest, as soon as the true police have lodged their suspect in a county jail.
Nonetheless, in line with the ATF’s personal weekly emails, the company takes credit score for every thing the native cops have achieved – each single lead or arrest – regardless that their particular brokers by no means left the constructing and by no means arrested and even met the unhealthy guys.
The next are among the press releases from 10 of the ATF’s 25 Subject Divisions, which have been despatched round 3 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025. 5 of the ATF Subject Divisions didn’t ship out any press releases.
As you will note, solely two contain ATF-led operations.
ATF Los Angeles Subject Division
“Federal Prosecutors Cost 126 Beforehand Eliminated Unlawful Aliens, Many with Felony Legal Information, with Illegally Re-Coming into the U.S.”
This press launch was taken by ATF from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, Central District of California. It updates expenses towards 126 defendants who “allegedly re-entered america after being eliminated.”
The e-mail summarizes the prison expenses of seven of the 126 defendants who have been arrested, however not one was charged by the ATF with any firearms violation.
The ATF was talked about fifth within the launch: “The FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; america Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Safety; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the State Division’s Diplomatic Safety Service supplied substantial help through the enforcement actions this week.”
This was the one e-mail issued by ATF’s Los Angeles Subject Division final week.
ATF Detroit Subject Division
“United States Legal professional’s Workplace Costs 46 Unlawful Aliens with Numerous Offenses together with Immigration Crimes, Drug Trafficking, Weapons Offenses, and Baby Pornography”
This press launch was taken by the ATF from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, Japanese District of Michigan. It updates expenses towards 46 unlawful immigrants who’ve been arrested for numerous expenses since January.
Two of the immigrants have been armed. One had an AK and the second had a “Smith and Wesson pistol.” The e-mail doesn’t specify whether or not ATF charged the 2 for the firearms.
This was the one e-mail issued by ATF’s Detroit Subject Division final week.
ATF New York Subject Division
“United States Legal professional Durham Launches the Japanese District of New York’s Transnational Legal Organizations Strike Drive”
This press launch was taken by the ATF from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, Japanese District of New York. The ATF is simply talked about as soon as within the prolonged doc.
Headline: “Prior felon pleads responsible to gun cost”
This case was dropped at ATF after an arrest by the Rochester Police Division.
Headline: “Wayne County man going to jail for stealing a firearm”
This case was dropped at ATF after an arrest by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Headline: “Jamestown drug ringleader going to jail for 25 years”
This case was investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Process Drive (OCDETF), of which ATF was certainly one of a number of members.
ATF Chicago Subject Division
Marquette Heights Felon Sentenced to 57 Months in Jail for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Unregistered Harmful Units
From the press launch: “In Could 2024, he was the passenger in a automobile that was stopped by Pekin Police Division officers. Through the visitors cease, the officers confiscated a locked bag from the automobile. After acquiring a search warrant for the bag, they discovered a stolen Springfield Armory XD-S .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol and two unregistered damaging units.”
The suspect was arrested by the Pekin (Illinois) Police Division and the ATF was introduced in lengthy after the actual fact.
Headline: South Bend Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Jail
From the press launch: “In Could 2020, he was engaged in a shootout outdoors his home when he fired seven .45 caliber rounds at a shifting car. Later, in June 2021, he carried a loaded rifle with a big capability journal whereas in one other particular person’s yard in the midst of the night time.”
The ATF was introduced into the case after the arrest was made. The South Bend Police Division, the St. Joseph County Police Division, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Workplace investigated the case.
ATF St. Paul Subject Division
“Gang Member Sentenced to 14 Years in Jail for Racketeering Conspiracy”
ATF was certainly one of 15 legislation enforcement companies named within the press launch, which additionally acknowledged: “quite a few different legislation enforcement companies additionally contributed to this investigation.”
Headline: “Mahnomen Felon Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Firearms”
That is one other case investigated by native law enforcement officials after which turned over to ATF afterward for federal expenses.
From the transient press launch: “This case is the results of an investigation performed by the White Earth Police Division, the Paul Bunyan Drug Process Drive, the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.”
ATF Phoenix Subject Division
“Three Needed Defendants from Mexico Secured in Arizona”
This press launch was taken by the ATF from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, District of Arizona.
It was the results of work by the “OCDETF Arizona Strike Drive,” which consists of 14 members made up of federal and native legislation enforcement. ATF is talked about tenth within the launch.
It’s the solely press launch issued by the Phoenix Subject Division final week.
ATF Tampa Subject Division
“Tampa Man Pleads Responsible to Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Convicted Felon”
This case was investigated primarily by the FBI.
Headline: “Lake County Man Pleads Responsible in Federal Firearms Trafficking Investigation”
This case was investigated primarily by america Customs and Border Patrol.
Headline: “Jury Finds Pinellas County Man Responsible of Brandishing s Firearm Throughout Comfort Retailer Theft”
This case was investigated primarily by the Clearwater Police Division and different native companies.
Headline: “Orange County Man Pleads Responsible to Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon”
This case was a results of a “deputy from the Lake County Sheriff’s Workplace noticed Sanchez driving a car that had been reported stolen.”
Headline: “Jacksonville Man With Home Violence and Felony Convictions Sentenced for Illegally Trying to Purchase a Firearm”
This case was investigated by the ATF.
Headline: “Clay County Man Pleads Responsible To Possessing a Loaded Firearm as a Convicted Felon”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Workplace.
ATF Miami Subject Division
“Miami U.S. Legal professional Costs Suspected Tren de Aragua Gang Member with Unlawful Possession of Loaded 9 Millimeter Handgun”
The ATF will not be even talked about on this press launch.
It was the one press launch issued by ATF’s Miami Subject Division final week.
ATF Atlanta Subject Division
“Massive-scale cocaine importers sentenced to federal jail”
This case was primarily investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It additionally concerned an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Process Forces (OCDETF), of which the ATF is a member.
That is the one press launch issued by the Atlanta Subject Division final week.
ATF Dallas Subject Division
“Unlawful Possession of Ammunition Following Reported Assault Lands Oklahoma Metropolis Man in Federal Jail for Three Years”
This case was the results of work by the Oklahoma Metropolis Police Division.
Headline: “Cartel Boss Tied to Southlake Homicide-for-Rent Amongst Defendants Expelled From Mexico”
This case was primarily the results of work by the FBI and a neighborhood legislation enforcement company, the FBI famous.
“FBI Dallas and the Southlake Police Division have been decided to carry this particular person to justice since he orchestrated a brutal homicide in one of many many communities we serve in North Texas,” R. Joseph Rothrock, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI Dallas Subject Workplace, famous within the launch.
The ATF was certainly one of 18 companies credited for the prosecution.
Headline: “Eight Gang Members Arrested in Operation Focusing on Space Often known as ‘Useless Finish’”
Performing U.S. Legal professional for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham introduced within the press launch that this investigation was “ATF-led” and concerned eight members of a South Dallas avenue gang.
A number of of the arrestees have been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Takeaways
Geographically, the protection accountability of ATF’s Subject Divisions is considerably of a joke. For instance, the company’s Boston Subject Division is answerable for protection of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. ATF’s St. Paul Subject Division covers Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Western Wisconsin. It’s Denver Subject Division covers Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Because of this, it’s no shock that the company generates so few prison expenses and even good case work.
Over time, the ATF has made a number of makes an attempt to generate its personal good headlines. All of them have failed tragically. Waco, Ruby Ridge, Operation “Quick and Livid” are older examples. Newer ones contain people, similar to Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, Russell Fincher, David Schieferle, Mark Manley and naturally the late Bryan Malinowski.
What the ATF does very properly might be seen in its press releases. It takes credit score regardless that credit score will not be due and definitely not deserved.
Most of its exercise – estimated at greater than 80% – includes ATF brokers answering cellphone calls from 9 a.m. to five p.m. whereas sitting comfortably at their desks after which typing up federal expenses for suspects they’ve by no means met and definitely by no means arrested.
Solely two of the 22 press releases concerned ATF-directed legislation enforcement, and each have been very minor in nature, particularly when in comparison with the work of different federal legislation enforcement companies. It raises the query of whether or not we even want an ATF.
Whereas some Second Modification specialists have urged protecting the staffers who examine gun retailers, referred to as IOIs, whereas dumping all of ATF’s particular brokers, this doesn’t go far sufficient. Patrick “Tate” Adamiak’s case taught us that, that the whole ATF is corrupt. They criminally charged an harmless man somewhat than admitting they screwed up the investigation.
When those that have had a badge of their billfold take a look at every thing the ATF has achieved, from its extremely sloppy search warrants to its obscene makes use of of drive, they understand it’s time to do away with the whole company.
Whereas it could contain some re-tasking of different federal companies, which is rarely straightforward or enjoyable, there is no such thing as a doubt it should save lives, and that’s the primary enterprise of legislation enforcement at each stage. Apart from, it should additionally rid us of some extremely soiled federal brokers, which is an efficient transfer that everybody ought to help.
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