A 28-year-old Saint Paul man has pleaded guilty to operating an illicit firearms trade, prosecutors revealed on Wednesday.
Eitan Benjamin Feldman, 28, repeatedly purchased firearms from out-of-state Federal Firearms Licensees and offered them for resale within days of obtaining them. He used online platforms like gunbroker.com and armslist.com to facilitate the transactions, making an average profit of $90 per gun.
Between January 2014 and January 2016, Feldman purchased and resold 41 guns, holding each firearm for an average of nine days before listing it for sale. On at least two occasions, he sold firearms to undercover federal agents without inquiring about their identification or verifying their eligibility to purchase the guns.
Despite receiving a warning from ATF Special Agents in July 2015, Feldman continued to engage in the illicit trade, selling guns on at least eight more occasions. His activities were linked to crime scenes, with some of the firearms being sold within days of being used in those incidents.
Feldman’s actions are a clear violation of federal law, which prohibits dealing in firearms without a license. He faces sentencing on August 30, 2016, for willfully engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.
The case is the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Minneapolis Police Department, Saint Paul Police Department, and Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case, which highlights the dangers of unregulated firearms trafficking and the importance of enforcing federal laws to prevent such activities.
Feldman’s conviction serves as a warning to others who may be engaging in similar activities, underlining the severe consequences of violating federal firearms laws.
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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