Lansing Gunrunner Harper Gets 83 Months

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Wolf Harper, 37, of Lansing, is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars after being sentenced to 83 months in federal prison today. Harper was convicted on charges of possession and transfer of machineguns, as well as possession of a short-barreled rifle – a deadly combination that U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey says fueled a dangerous escalation in street violence.

The case unfolded when Harper brazenly sold a short-barreled rifle equipped with a silencer, alongside a staggering 74 machinegun conversion devices – commonly known as auto sears – to an undercover agent. These aren’t mere modifications; a conversion device transforms a standard semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon, capable of unleashing up to 1000 rounds per minute. Under federal law, that *is* a machinegun, and Harper knew it. The bust didn’t stop there. Investigators found Harper had an additional 30 conversion devices at the time of his arrest, and roughly 20 more stashed away at his residence.

A search of Harper’s home revealed a disturbing arsenal beyond the conversion devices. Nine silencers were discovered, along with a multitude of other weapons and tactical gear. But the most chilling find was a fully-equipped firearms manufacturing workshop set up in one of his bedrooms – a clear indication that Harper wasn’t just distributing illegal weapons, he was actively *making* them. The scale of the operation suggests a clear intent to profit from the escalating gun violence plaguing our streets.

U.S. Attorney VerHey didn’t mince words when discussing the implications of Harper’s actions. “Street gangs and drug traffickers have recently escalated the danger they pose to our communities by choosing to carry machineguns rather than ordinary firearms when they can,” he stated. “This leads to tragic and predictable results: not only do the criminals harm and kill one another, innocent bystanders often get caught in the crossfire. Harper was willing to sell his deadly products to all buyers, no questions asked.”

James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Division, echoed VerHey’s sentiments. “Wolf Harper was motivated by money and his actions demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety of others,” Deir said. “Machinegun conversion devices are inherently dangerous and represent a clear danger to public safety. In the hands of prolific shooters who terrorize our neighborhoods with gun violence, these devices represent tools of urban warfare.” He added, “Harper selfishly put profit ahead of logic. He will have plenty of time to reflect on that while he sits in federal prison.”

This case was investigated by the ATF and is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative program uniting federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies with the community to combat violent crime. The message is clear: those who prioritize profit over public safety, and who arm dangerous criminals with illegal weapons, will be aggressively pursued and brought to justice. More information on PSN can be found at www.justice.gov/psn.