Federal authorities have unsealed a three-count complaint against a Provo man who they say violated federal firearms laws. Investigators say that the 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with an underground machine gun manufacturing business.
Charges against the man include:
- Failure to register as a firearms dealer and manufacturer
- Illegal possession of machine firearms
- Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number
The charges stem from an investigation that began last fall when the man allegedly told a FBI informant regarding plans to bomb the Provo IRS building. During this conversation the man allegedly revealed that he also had firearms.
An undercover FBI team then conducted a sting in which the man sold one fully automatic AR-15 machine gun to an undercover agent. Possession of the firearm is against federal law as it is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The man has not entered a plea in this case but may face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of the complaint.
Source: Utah DOJ, “Provo Man Faces Firearms Charges Following FBI JTTF Investigation,” July 11, 2013