Christopher Lee Yates Admits to Stealing ATF Firearms

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A trusted security guard turned thief, Christopher Lee Yates, 52, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, admitted in federal court to stealing firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition from a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) facility under his watch. The breach at the ATF’s National Disposal Branch — a secure site meant for destroying illegal weapons — has raised alarm about vulnerabilities in federal asset control.

Yates, once tasked with guarding government property, instead exploited his access to pilfer weapons and components valued at more than $1,000. According to court documents, he admitted to possessing stolen firearms in Berkeley County in February 2019. His guilty plea covers one count of “Possession of Stolen Firearm” and one count of “Theft of Government Property,” both federal offenses carrying severe penalties.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell confirmed the charges, underscoring the seriousness of a man sworn to protect federal assets instead plundering them. “This was not a crime of opportunity — it was a betrayal of duty,” Powell stated. “Someone with authorized access took firearms meant for destruction and put them back into circulation. That’s dangerous on every level.”

Yates now faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. The actual sentence will be determined under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, weighing the severity of the offenses and any prior criminal history. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Finucane is prosecuting the case, with investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided over the proceedings. With the stolen firearms still unaccounted for, federal authorities are urging the public to come forward. Anyone with information about the location of these weapons, parts, or ammunition — or individuals who may have unknowingly acquired them — is urged to contact ATF via 1-888-ATF-TIPS, email ATFTips@atf.gov, online at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips, or through the ReportIt® app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

The case shines a harsh light on federal security protocols and the risks posed when insiders turn criminal. For now, the weapons remain missing — and potentially deadly — in the shadows of the very system meant to destroy them.