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Criminal Use of the 50 Caliber Sniper Rifle
"The simple fact
is that .50-calibers have not been used in crimes,"
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulandam, Associated Press, August 18, 2004
- Two teenagers
were arrested in Nogales, Arizona in September 2010 as they attempted
to smuggle a 50 caliber rifle into Mexico. ("2 teens reportedly try
to smuggle .50-cal rifle," Arizona Daily Star, September 24,
2010)
- Nicholas Rohrbach
was sentenced in September 2010 for participating in a gang-related
gun trafficking conspiracy that included a 50 caliber rifle. Prosecutors
kept the rifle on display during the trial. The defense claimed that
Rohrbach was only a "gun enthusiast." ("Last of defendants in arms
case sentenced," yakimaherald.com, September 30, 2010)
- John Shipley,
an FBI agent, was convicted on April 15, 2010 of dealing in firearms
without a license. He bought 54 guns and sold 51, including two Barrett
50 caliber sniper rifles, and falsified many of the records. One of
the 50 caliber rifles was used in a drug cartel-related shootout in
Chihuahua, Mexico. ("FBI agent guilty of gun dealing," Las Cruces
Sun-News, April 15, 2010).
- Lloyd Woodson
was arraigned on January 26, 2010 on multiple firearms charges, including
being a felon in possession of firearms, after police found an arsenal
of high-powered firearms and a map of a military base in his hotel
room in New Jersey. Among the guns seized was a .223 assault rifle
converted to a 50 caliber rifle, a rocket launcher, and military body
armor. ("Officials find arsenal of weapons in New Jersey hotel room,"
CNN, January 26, 2010)
- William Burkett
pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiring to distribute
more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana on August 19, 2009 and faces
life in prison. Burkett's arrest was part of larger investigation
of a drug distribution network. During the investigation, police seized
72 weapons including a 50 caliber sniper rifle and several assault
rifles in addition to drugs and cash. ("Life term possible for pot
trafficker," Watertown Daily Times, August 21, 2009)
- Anti-government
extremist Ed Brown admitted in court in July 2009 that he pointed
a .50 sniper rifle at U.S Marshals who were executing an arrest warrant
on his property in New Hampshire. Brown and his wife, Elaine, are
charged with 11 felonies in connection with a nearly nine-month standoff
with federal agents. The couple amassed an arsenal that included 22
pipe bombs, dozens of gunpowder grenades, 10 booby trap devices, and
two .50-caliber sniper rifles. They issued repeated threats against
law enforcement agents. If found guilty, they face virtual life sentences.
("As any American would: Ed Brown takes the stand in his own defense,"
Concord Monitor, July 8, 2009).
- On February 10,
federal authorities arrested a Plattsburgh, New York man on federal
gun charges. Michael Moccio is suspected of dealing in guns without
a license and of selling guns to convicted felons. It is believed
he charged felons higher prices than non-felon customers. A 50 caliber
sniper rifle was among the 44 guns seized by authorities. One of the
guns sold by the suspect turned up at a murder scene. ("Feds seize
huge weapons cache in Plattsburgh," WPTZ.com, February 10,
2009)
- In January 2009,
an Omaha, Nebraska man was arrested for threatening then-President-elect
Barack Obama. The man told a Veteran's Affairs official,"I would like
to shoot Obama and do it with a sniper shot." The man, Johnnie Galarza,
claimed he owned a .50 sniper rifle and that he was trained as a sniper
in the U.S. Army. Galarza's threat was reported to the Secret Service.
("Omahan faces federal charge in threat to Obama," Omaha World-Herald,
January 24, 2009).
- On October 20,
2008, police and federal agents arrested 20 suspects in St. Lawrence
County, New York in a drug raid. Police seized 282 grams of cocaine,
several pounds of marijuana, and 72 firearms, including several assault
rifles and a 50 caliber sniper rifle. ("Police, feds arrest 20
suspects in early-morning drug raids," Watertown Daily Times,
October 21, 2008)
- In June 2008,
a jailed Colorado man wrote a letter to relatives claiming he planned
to use a 50 caliber rifle to kill a Mesa County Drug Task Force officer
who was involved in arresting the man. Robert Hakel was convicted
of nine counts of being a felon in possession of firearms after police
seized15 handguns and rifles from his apartment. Describing his intent
to kill the drug enforcement officer, Hakel wrote, "The one gun they
missed is the deadliest of them all. I've got the .50 caliber assassin
rifle very safely hidden." Police later recovered the 50 caliber rifle
along with an SKS assault rifle from an acquaintance of Hakel's. ("Jailed
‘grandpa' threatened drug cop," Grand Junction Free Press,
January 9, 2009).
- On April 4, 2008
a Florida man was arrested on federal charges of using the internet
to make threats to recreate the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech that
left 32 people dead. The man had amassed an arsenal that included
a 50 caliber sniper rifle along with 13 other firearms and 5,000 rounds
of ammunition, including 50 caliber rounds. ("Virginia Tech Threat
Arrest," NBC, April 4, 2008; "Feds Now Probing Va. Tech Copycat
Case," Associated Press, April 5, 2008)
- On April 1, 2008,
police in Hanover Maryland found a cache of firearms including a 50
caliber Barrett sniper rifle, an Uzi, and several other rifles and
handguns in a hotel room after a man was evicted from the room. When
police searched the man's car they found Oxycontin, $42,000 in cash,
and a loaded .45 pistol. The man was arrested. ("Man found with an
array of loaded guns, HometownAnnapolis.com, April 2, 2008)
- On March 31,
2008 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that
its agents had seized 10 firearms including a 50 caliber sniper rifle
before they were smuggled into Mexico. The guns were found during
a traffic stop in Tuscon, Arizona. According to ICE, "the seizures
stem from a probe by the Border Enforcement Security Task Force to
identify, investigate and prosecute, gang members, weapon smugglers,
aliens and others illegally in possession of firearms." Richard Crocker,
deputy special agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations
in Tucson said, "Stopping the illegal flow of weapons into Mexico
is a key focus of the BEST team...Many of these seized weapons would
have been used by organized criminal gangs against our law enforcement
partners in Mexico. By stopping them here, we are preventing these
tragedies from occurring there." ("ICE seizes weapons bound for Mexico,"
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement statement, March 31, 2008).
- In March 2008
a police officer in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico was killed with a 50 caliber
sniper rifle. The gun's origin was linked to Phoenix, Arizona according
to law enforcement officials. ("Top prosecutors in Ariz., Mexico target
smuggling," Arizona Republic, March 14, 2008).
- On February 17,
2008 police in Newbury, Massachusetts charged a man with 26 counts
of failing to safely store weapons after officers responding to a
domestic violence call found 20 firearms including a 50 caliber Armalite
sniper rifle. Among the guns was a loaded handgun stuffed under a
couch cushion. The man was intoxicated when officers arrived at the
home where a 13-year-old boy and 3 year-old girl also resided. The
man's permit to carry a concealed handgun was revoked after the arrest.
("High-powered rifle found in Newbury home," The Boston Globe,
February 19, 2008)
- On September
20, 2007, federal agents seized a 50 caliber sniper rifle from Ray
Ross who was indicted in connection with a massive criminal conspiracy
to distribute illegal anabolic steroids and other illicit drugs. ("How
an Aberdeen garage became key stop in global steroid pipeline," Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, October 29, 2007)
- On September
12, 2007, police in Suffolk County, New York arrested a man and charged
him with conspiring to aid tax protesters who had barricaded themselves
in their fortified home in New Hampshire in an effort to evade arrest
on numerous tax charges. Police seized firearms, including two 50
caliber sniper rifles and a bomb, from the New York man's home. He
was charged with conspiracy to impede an officer of the United States,
conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, accessory
after the fact and five counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance
of a crime of violence. ("Arms seized from Brown ally's home, Two
others arraigned in N.H. today" Concord Monitor, September
14, 2007).
- On September
11, 2007, a Salem Oregon man was arrested on charges of second-degree
criminal mischief and reckless burning after starting a wildfire by
firing armor-piercing incendiary ammunition from a 50 caliber sniper
rifle into a tree stump. The fire took days to extinguish and caused
major damage to private forest land. The sheriff's department spokesman
was quoted as saying, "The problem with a weapon like this is that
you can't safely shoot it anywhere." ("Arrest made in Polk County
wildfire: deputies determined high-powered rifle caused fire," Statesman
Journal, September 11, 2007).
- On July 16, 2007,
police in New Haven, Connecticut arrested a Yale University student
for illegal discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and second
degree threatening, among other charges. Police seized a 50 caliber
sniper rifle, an AR-15 assault rifle, numerous pistols, and "various
chemicals" from the student's fraternity house. ("Light '09 arrested
for illegal weapons possession," Yale Daily News, July 17,
2007)
- On May 16, 2007,
law enforcement officials in Connecticut charged James E. Gasser with
multiple crimes in connection with a lengthy standoff with police
after the man discharged a firearm in his home. Among the guns police
seized from Gasser's home was a 50 caliber sniper rifle along with
.50 ammunition. Police had to evacuate neighbors and deploy an armored
vehicle because of the risk presented by Gasser's arsenal. ("Police
Seize Weapons from Colchester Man," The Hartford Courant, May
16, 2007)
- On April 30,
2007, Arthur A. Garcia of Rice Lake, Wisconsin was arrested on federal
charges of being an unlawful drug user in possession of firearms.
An arsenal of weapons was seized from his mobile home, including a
Vulcan Arms 50 caliber sniper rifle along with assault weapons, body
armor, and armor-piercing ammunition. A police informant stated that
he had been to Garcia's home several times in a two month period and
during each visit Garcia talked continuously about shooting people.
According to the informant's statement, Garcia threatened to shoot
his ex-girlfriend and her family while they attended church services.
Referring to the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, Garcia stated,
"The guy had a good start, but screwed up when he shot himself in
the head," according to the informant. Garcia also allegedly told
the informant that he (Garcia) would have to be killed but not before
he had a body count of 1,000. ("Man with arsenal faces federal charges,"
The Chronotype Rice Lake Online, May 14, 2007)
- In August of
2006, William Gerald Thomas of Gainesville, Georgia was charged with
aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and use of a firearm while
under the influence of alcohol for brandishing a rifle and then a
machine gun at a bystander after the parents of two 14-year old girls
intervened to stop Thomas from harassing the girls at a motel pool.
When police executed a search warrant on Thomas' SUV, they found 38
weapons including 50 caliber sniper rifles, assault weapons, and 2,000
rounds of ammunition. ("38 weapons found in man's car," The Walton
Sun, August 8, 2006)
- In June of 2006,
Anthony Troianello was arrested in Binghamton, New York on illegal
weapons charges. The cache of guns that police recovered at his home
included several assault weapons, three handguns, and a 50 caliber
anti-armor sniper rifle. Authorities also found more than 200 animals
on his property, half of which were suffering from maltreatment and
required immediate medical attention. ("Man charged with illegally
owning firearms, The Associated Press, June 7, 2006)
- In May of 2006,
a White Supremacist gang was indicted in Arizona on drug and weapons
charges, including the sale to undercover officers of a stolen 50
caliber sniper rifle. The rifle was represented by the gang as powerful
enough to destroy an armored car or shoot down a Phoenix Police helicopter.
According to a special agent from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms who participated in the investigation, "The destructive
capacity of those weapons [50 calibers] makes the streets much safer
without them....No question." ("White supremacist gang busted," Arizona
Republic, May 20, 2006)
- In January of
2006, a grand jury in Florida indicted ten foreign nationals on charges
of attempting to provide material support to the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The indictment alleged that the defendants intended to supply the
FARC members with weapons, including 50 50 caliber rifles and two
helicopters. ("Foreign Nationals Charged with Attempting to Provide
Material Support to Terrorists and Alien Smuggling," Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) News Release, January 27, 2006)
- In March of 2005,
Kyle Harness of Marina del Rey, California, was arrested after being
pulled over on a traffic stop and found to be in possession of a stolen
Armalite 50 caliber sniper rifle. Harness was stopped for having a
broken taillight and false registration tags, and was on parole for
armed robbery at the time of his arrest. (“Officer Finds Rifle in
Parolee’s Car,” Daily Breeze, March 15, 2005)
- In June of 2004,
Marvin Heemeyer of Granby, Colorado, plowed a makeshift armored bulldozer
into several buildings in response to a zoning dispute and fines for
city code violations. Heemeyer armored his 60-ton bulldozer with two
sheets of half-inch steel with a layer of concrete between them. He
methodically drove the bulldozer through the town of Granby, damaging
or leveling 13 buildings before taking his own life. Heemeyer mounted
three rifles on the bulldozer, including a Barrett 82A1 50 caliber
sniper rifle. ("Man who plowed armored bulldozer into seven buildings
in Colorado is dead, authorities say," Associated Press, June
5, 2004; "Armored Dozer Was Bad to Go," Denver Rocky Mountain News,
June 25, 2004)
Slide
show of the interior of Heemeyer's bulldozer from the Denver Post
- In February of
2004, Donin Wright of Kansas City, Missouri, lured police officers,
paramedics, and firefighters to his home where he shot at them with
several guns including a Barrett 50 caliber sniper rifle. Authorities
discovered at least 20 guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and
the makings of 20 pipe bombs inside Wright's home. ("Body is Identified
in KC Gunfight, Fire," The Kansas City Star, March 30, 2004)
Slide
show of the crime scene from thekansascitychannel.com
- In June of 2000,
Robert W. Stewart of Mesa, Arizona, a convicted felon, was charged
with felony possession of firearms for being in possession of Maadi-Griffin
50 caliber "kit guns" he was selling from his home, along with other
firearms alleged to be in his possession. Stewart has become a folk
hero among hard-line gun advocates and 50 caliber enthusiasts. He
was distinguished, among other things, by his assertion that convicted
felons have the right to possess firearms: "I don't care if he's a
mass murderer, he killed 50,000 people. He still has a right to have
a gun. A gun is just a tool." (MSNBC transcript, "The .50-caliber
militia," http://msnbc.com/news, May 15, 2001)
- In April of 2000,
convicted felon Wayne Frank Barbuto of Salt Lake City, Utah, was charged
with attempting to sell two 50 caliber sniper rifles to undercover
federal agents. The government believes Barbuto manufactured the guns
himself. During a search of Barbuto's home, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents discovered more than 32 firearms
and thousands of rounds of ammunition. ("Sandy Gun Dealer Charged
by Feds," The Associated Press, May 5, 2000)
- According to
the General Accounting Office (GAO), 50 caliber sniper rifles have
been found in the armories of drug dealers in California, Missouri,
and Indiana. A federal investigation in 1999 was "targeting the movement
of .50 caliber semi-automatic rifles from the United States to Mexico
for use by drug cartels." ("Weaponry: .50 Caliber Rifle Crime," GAO
Office of Special Investigations letter, August 4, 1999)
- On March 19,
1998, following an undercover investigation, federal law enforcement
officers arrested three members of a radical Michigan group known
as the North American Militia. The men were charged with plotting
to bomb federal office buildings, destroy highways, utilities, and
public roads, and assassinate the state's governor, senior U.S. Senator,
federal judges, and other federal officials. All three were ultimately
convicted. A 50 caliber sniper rifle was among the weapons found in
their possession. ("Prosecutor: Hate Was Motive Behind Plot," The
Associated Press, November 18, 1998)
- Wisconsin father
and son James and Theodore Oswald were sentenced in 1995 to multiple
life terms for armed robbery and the murder of a Waukesha police captain.
The two had "a small armory of sophisticated and expensive weapons,
including two custom-made .50-caliber rifles powerful enough to assault
an armored car—which the two were considering doing," according to
the Waukesha county sheriff. ("Possible Links Between Robbers, Far
Right Sought," Chicago Tribune, July 10, 1995)
- In the summer
of 1995, Canadian officials in British Columbia found a Barrett 50
caliber sniper rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, and enough explosives
to fill a five-ton truck at a remote site. It is believed that members
of a Texas militia group planned to set up a training camp at the
site. Although at least one convicted felon was identified as a suspect,
the investigation was dropped due to difficulties in prosecuting across
international borders. The incident prompted one Texas Constitutional
Militia official to observe, "We are not all raving maniacs. I'd kind
of like to keep our lunatics on our side of the border." ("Arms Smugglers
Won't Be Charged," The Vancouver Sun, October 26, 1996)
- On April 28,
1995, Albert Petrosky walked into an Albertson's grocery store in
suburban Denver, Colorado, and gunned down his estranged wife and
the store manager. Armed with an L.A.R. Grizzly 50 caliber sniper
rifle, an SKS Chinese semiautomatic assault rifle, a .32 revolver,
and a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, Petrosky then walked out into the
shopping center parking lot, where he exchanged fire with a federal
IRS agent and killed Sgt. Timothy Mossbrucker of the Jefferson County
Sheriff's Department. Petrosky, who was known to his friends as "50-cal
Al," fired all four weapons, including the 50 caliber rifle, during
his murderous rampage. ("Authorities Investigate Gun Sale: Rifle Used
in Albertson's Slayings Wasn't Illegal," Rocky Mountain News,
May 1, 1995)
- Branch Davidian
cult members at a compound in Waco, Texas, fired 50 caliber sniper
rifles at federal ATF agents during their initial gun battle on February
28, 1993. The weapons' ability to penetrate tactical vehicles prompted
the agency to request military armored vehicles to give agents adequate
protection from the 50 caliber rifles and other more powerful weapons
the Branch Davidians might have had. Four ATF agents were killed.
("Weaponry: .50 Caliber Rifle Crime," GAO Office of Special Investigations
letter, August 4, 1999)
- On February 27,
1992, a Wells Fargo armored delivery truck was attacked in a "military
style operation" in Chamblee, Georgia, by several men using a smoke
grenade and a Barrett 50 caliber sniper rifle. Two employees were
wounded. ("Two Armored Truck Guards Shot," The Atlanta Journal
Constitution, February 27, 1992)
- In 1989, two
members of a church in Gardner, Montana, who were part of what ATF
has described as a "doomsday religious cult," were arrested and charged
with federal firearms violations. The two suspects had purchased hundreds
of firearms, including ten 50 caliber semiautomatic rifles and thousands
of rounds of ammunition, using false identification. ("Weaponry: .50
Caliber Rifle Crime," GAO Office of Special Investigations letter,
August 4, 1999)
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