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WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a United States Army Major, currently assigned to Fort Liberty, on charges of dealing in firearms without a license, delivering firearms without notice to the carrier, smuggling goods from the United States, illegally exporting firearms without a license, making false statements made to an agency of the United States, making false declarations before the court, and conspiracy. Kojo Owusu Dartey, age 42, faces a maximum penalty of 240 months when sentenced on July 23, 2024.
BOISE – Arthur Michael Rhyne, a/k/a Arthur Michael O’Neil, 41, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, in August 2023, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Rhyne for illegally obtaining and shipping firearms. Agents learned that Rhyne attempted to ship a loaded Glock 9mm pistol with a machinegun conversion device, called a “switch,” installed on the Glock. A machinegun conversion device is a device that, when integrated with a semiautomatic firearm, will convert it to fire in fully automatic capacity. This conversion of a Glock pistol with a “switch” machinegun conversion device, for example, will result in a rate-of-fire of approximately 1,100 – 1,200 rounds per minute, making these devices particularly lethal.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Director Steven M. Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) dedicated a new “Faces of Gun Violence” exhibit today at a ceremony hosted during ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit. The exhibit honors and memorializes those whose lives have been tragically lost to gun violence.
PHILADELPHIA – The agencies comprising the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force highlighted the task force’s efforts at a press conference today at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, ATF Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Eric J. DeGree, FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel discussed the benefits of the task force partnership and several significant investigations. They also noted that the number of carjackings in Philadelphia, after hitting a historical high of 1,311 in 2022, dropped 31% to 900 in 2023. In addition, the numbers for the first quarter of 2024 are indicative of another marked decline from last year.
On April 10, 2024, the Attorney General signed ATF’s final rule, Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Dealer in Firearms, amending ATF’s regulations in title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”), part 478. The final rule implements the provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (“BSCA,” effective June 25, 2022), which broadened the definition of when a person is considered “engaged in the business” as a dealer in firearms (other than a gunsmith or pawnbroker). The Final Rule clarifies that definition. It will be published in the Federal Register and will be effective 30-days from publication.