ATF Raid on Airport Exec in Ark, update

Quiet Serf, we don't need no stinkin' facts!

This article contains a link to the warrant affidavit. Very interesting reading. Sounds like a lengthy investigation into some pretty questionable behavior. Nevertheless, the questions about how the warrant was prosecuted are valid and deeply concerning.

This was a hit pure and simple and just one more on the clinton he needs to go away list. One question why wasn't the 2022 Toyota Highlander searched first? That could have been done on the street this has the appearance of a straw man sale A person who, with the intent to engage in conduct that constitutes a violation of section 922(a)(1)(A), travels from any State or foreign country into any other State and acquires, or attempts to acquire, a firearm in such other State in furtherance of such purpose shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years. I will admit this guy had some issues that needed to be looked in to but the way this was conducted smells like another Randy Weaver lets get rid of him.

There was something on the news about this this morning. The video is not that clear and it looks like one of the agents covered up the doorbell camera when they got on the porch.

There are several questions. Why did they serve the warrant in the wee hours of the morning rather than in daytime or at some other location? Did they announce theirselves or just break in? It states that he sold over 150 guns since 2021.
Airport managers at the larger airports make good money. Was he liquidating a personal collection or dealing in firearms without a license.

Still lots of unanswered questions.

lightman said:

There was something on the news about this this morning. The video is not that clear and it looks like one of the agents covered up the doorbell camera when they got on the porch.

There are several questions. Why did they serve the warrant in the wee hours of the morning rather than in daytime or at some other location? Did they announce theirselves or just break in? It states that he sold over 150 guns since 2021.
Airport managers at the larger airports make good money. Was he liquidating a personal collection or dealing in firearms without a license.

Still lots of unanswered questions.

Click to expand...

Here's what the article says:

According to the warrant, Malinowski purchased more than 150 guns between May 2021 and Feb. 27, 2024, which he then resold.

The ATF claims in the affidavit that around six of the guns Malinowski sold were found after being connected to a crime.

Undercover federal agents purchased another three from Malinowski at central Arkansas gun shows, the affidavit stated.

According to the affidavit, Malinowski would purchase guns through legal means, checking off a box on the purchase form that he was buying the gun for himself. He would then resell the just-purchased guns in as little as 24 hours through gun shows where he maintained a table or through private sales.

Click to expand...

In one case, he was reported to have told an undercover buyer that all purchases were cash only.

All the guns purchased by Malinowski were pistols, including 24 Model 45s by Glock and AR-style pistols, the affidavit stated.

Click to expand...

As time goes on there will be no doubt more details released.

The warrant doesn't seem to be a no-knock warrant. And it's a daytime warrant from 6AM-10AM, if I remember correctly. But, yeah, it looks like they came in at 6AM expecting them to be asleep.

He appears to be one of the typical dealing firearms without a license guys. I could see buying a case of used Walthers, and keeping the ones with the collector value you want and selling the rest. To buy 24 Glock model 45 handguns in a period of 1-2 years, it's hard to make the argument that you're not buying them to resell.

Why they singled him out instead of the other guys you see at the gun show? Maybe he's just the lucky one. Maybe he was the only one this open about it. Maybe to make an example of him. I don't know.

I'll be the first to say I don't agree with the law. But if there's any truth to the warrant at all, it looks like he broke the law. Not in a gray area, but all the way into the black.

If Malinowski fired first after the Agent's identified themselves all bet's are off on self defense. It could have been Malinowski was half asleep and someone was breaking in his door. Not enough information at this point. It does beg the question why didn't they arrest him at work?

wayneinFL said:

He appears to be one of the typical dealing firearms without a license guys. I could see buying a case of used Walthers, and keeping the ones with the collector value you want and selling the rest. To buy 24 Glock model 45 handguns in a period of 1-2 years, it's hard to make the argument that you're not buying them to resell.

Click to expand...

ATF considers that engaging in the business of dealing in firearms. Buy a case of Mosins, Walthers, whatever, keep the nice one and selling the rest? Thats a felony.

dogtown tom said:

ATF considers that engaging in the business of dealing in firearms. Buy a case of Mosins, Walthers, whatever, keep the nice one and selling the rest? Thats a felony.

Click to expand...

You know someone who has been convicted based on something like this?

dogtown tom said:

ATF considers that engaging in the business of dealing in firearms. Buy a case of Mosins, Walthers, whatever, keep the nice one and selling the rest? Thats a felony.

Click to expand...

So, if I buy a lot of 10 surplus pistols at auction, gunbroker, wherever and I sell one, it's straight to prison?

wayneinFL said:

You know someone who has been convicted based on something like this?

Click to expand...

I know what ATF has written......and the question posed was "Can I buy a case of Mosins, keep one and sell the rest?"
ATF response was "No, you are acquiring with the intent to resell, requiring an 01 FFL".

wayneinFL said:

So, if I buy a lot of 10 surplus pistols at auction, gunbroker, wherever and I sell one, it's straight to prison?

Click to expand...

No, first they'll bankrupt you.
Lawyers ain't free.

If you want to be a gun dealer and wheel and deal in firearms.....get an 01FFL. Its not expensive.

If you want your door kicked in then do what Bruce Malinowski did.

Terry G said:

If Malinowski fired first after the Agent's identified themselves all bet's are off on self defense. It could have been Malinowski was half asleep and someone was breaking in his door. Not enough information at this point. It does beg the question why didn't they arrest him at work?

Click to expand...

You can't make an example out of him that way.

Terry G said:

If Malinowski fired first after the Agent's identified themselves all bet's are off on self defense. It could have been Malinowski was half asleep and someone was breaking in his door. Not enough information at this point. It does beg the question why didn't they arrest him at work

Click to expand...

It was a search warrant. He didn't need to be there, but they made sure he was. If this was proper procedure for serving a search warrant, this is a pretty good reason for reviewing those procedures and making significant adjustments.

old lady new shooter said:

This is a tangent, but I am reading the affidavit and it says (emphasis added):

the term "dealer", as defined in Title i8 USC 921(a)(11) of theGCA, means (A) any person engaged in the business of selling firearms at wholesale or retail; or (B)any person engaged in the business of repairing firearrns or ofmaking or fitting special barrels, stocks,or trigger mechanisms to firearms; or (C) any person who is a pawnbroker​

I had no idea gunsmiths are required to be an FFL. What's the rationale behind this?

Click to expand...

Because gunsmiths are engaged in a business activity involving firearms. The same recordkeeping requirements apply to them.

old lady new shooter said:

I read about half the warrant. Looks like a pretty airtight case. I don't understand why a highly paid executive would engage in such activity, he couldn't have been making much money compared to his salary... If he just really enjoyed buying and selling firearms, why not just get licensed and do it legally? I suspect when all the information comes out (if it does, they can't exactly prosecute a dead man) we will learn there is more to the story.

Click to expand...

I've had a customer (now deceased) that received a cease and desist letter from ATF, telling him that any dispositions of his firearms had to be through an FFL. He held an FFL at one point and either turned it in or chose not to renew. That didn't stop his wheeling and dealing or collecting. He didn't need to flip guns, he enjoyed flipping guns. Unfortunately one of those flips was recovered in Mexico and he got on ATF's radar.

old lady new shooter said:

Not involved in selling firearms?

Click to expand...

"Selling" isn't a requirement. Of the Title I guns that come through my books, less than 1% are actual sales, the rest are transfers.
I do sell NFA (Title II).

A gunsmith will have acquisitions, either from a nonlicensee or from a licensee. Same with his dispositions. Those acquisitions and dispositions have recordkeeping requirements.

Seems you are more likely to survive a home invasion than a no knock warrant.

How can a home owner tell that the people busting his door down are Cops?

Slamfire said:

Seems you are more likely to survive a home invasion than a no knock warrant.

How can a home owner tell that the people busting his door down are Cops?

Click to expand...

Now imagine being woke up to someone pounding on your door. You look at the monitor for the ring doorbell and see that it's been disabled!

You grab your gun to protect yourself and your family. Just as you get to a point to see the door, it gets smashed in, and you see multiple attackers coming in.

This was NOT an arrest warrant, it was a search warrant! They killed a man because he didn't pay the king his tax!