DC area robbers used weapons smuggled by soldier from Iraq

Probe: Robbers Used Weapons Smuggled From Iraq by Soldier
By Eric M. Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 16, 2006; Page C01

The gang that carried out a series of commando-style bank robberies in the Washington area two years ago used fully automatic assault rifles that were smuggled from the battlefields of Iraq by a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve, according to investigators.

An investigation by the FBI and local police is centering on several AK-47s the notorious robbers used in some of their heists. In Iraq, such weapons are plentiful and cheap. For the robbery gang, they were key to their strategy: using overwhelming firepower and body armor to frighten and intimidate bank employees and customers -- and ward off police.

New details about the guns have emerged from interviews with law enforcement officials and court records. The arrests and convictions of eight people in the robberies, including two who became government witnesses, led to the spin-off criminal investigation into how the rifles made their way from Iraq to Washington. No one has been arrested in the weapons case.

Authorities said the weapons were part of a small cache purchased for $5,000 from a gang member's friend, who had recently come back from serving in Iraq. The soldier was a member of a military police battalion based at Fort Meade, authorities said. Law enforcement officials expressed concern that more high-powered battle weapons could end up being used in crimes against U.S. citizens and police. They cited the number, availability and low cost of weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and the profits to be made here at home.

more (reg required):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2006071500909.html

Yeah, wonderful logic.

This would get many more well-deserved reads.

What with the stories about inner-city gang members, Aryan Nation, etc., serving in Iraq and the ready availability of AK-47s and Kalashnikovs, this is a pretty disturbing tale.

My Grandpa had his handgun from WWII.

You would think they would figure out how to stop it by now. :(
Of course, that would mean they cared.

All automatic weapons, including AK-47's, are VERY tightly controlled in the United States, by the Title 2/Class III provisions of the National Firearms Act of 1934. It is a 10-year Federal felony to possess any automatic weapon without special government permission (a BATFE Form 4), and unless a particular automatic weapon was lawfully possessed and registered in the United States prior to 1986, it is restricted to police/military/government use ONLY.

I think the military does now prohibit the bringing back of any guns (even pistols and such) that they formerly allowed, but importing an AK-47 would have always run afoul of the National Firearms Act, even back in the 1950's.