BOISE, Idaho — Federal law enforcement is sounding the alarm over a dangerous rise in illegal gun trafficking around the country, and in Idaho.
The U.S. Attorney for Idaho, Josh Hurwit, said he is seeing trends in newer crimes, like 3-D printing gun parts at home, and an increase in firearms from Idaho being traded for drugs from California and Mexico.
For the first time in Idaho, a federal judge sentenced a man to seven years in federal prison this spring for trafficking illegal guns made with machine gun conversion devices, including "Glock switches." A machine gun conversion device converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating 41-year-old Arthur Michael Rhyne of Twin Falls in August 2023 and learned he was trying to ship a loaded Glock 9mm pistol with a switch installed. When ATF agents searched his home, the U.S. Attorney's Office said agents found a safe with 16 firearms, 14 machine gun conversion devices, three high-capacity drum magazines, three suppressors, more than 2,100 rounds of ammunition and 78 grams of methamphetamine.
"It's really scary because the individual firing that weapon has less control than normal and essentially is just spraying bullets every which way. And we've seen law enforcement, not in Idaho, but nationwide, being essentially outgunned by these illegal devices," Hurwit said, "It's illegal to possess these. And they're not just for handguns. There's also what are called 'auto sears', which are used with the AR-15 platform."
Agents also took "auto sears" from Rhyne. Rhyne was not allowed to possess firearms due to a previous felony conviction in California.
The U.S. Attorney for Idaho and ATF said they are trying to get ahead of a troubling increase in newer crimes like Glock switches and Auto Sears.
"Technology leads the way," "Jay" Joel Miller, ATF Boise Resident Agent in Charge, said. "That is, quite frankly, a problem that... the federal government has been behind on."
"It's something that's a little bit new. They can be 3-D printed, so it's really challenging to get a hold of this problem," Hurwit added.
The ATF calls Idaho a source state for firearms. The state has a strong hunting and outdoor culture and is "gun friendly".
"It's too easy compared to other states. So, they go up here. We're starting to see it, too, in Montana," Miller said. "The reason why it's too easy is because they're exploiting our right, you know, our constitutional right to be able to buy and possess firearms."
"The criminal element understands that there are lots of opportunities to acquire firearms and they're unfortunately using the gun shops and other outdoors distributors to further their criminal purposes," Hurwit said.
Federal officials said people are illegally trafficking firearms out of the state of Idaho and sending them south to California, where those guns might get into Mexico and into the hands of cartels. In exchange for those firearms, drugs are coming up into Idaho.
Four people were sent to federal prison in 2023 for importing and supplying drugs in exchange for firearms bought through a network of "straw purchasers" in Eastern Idaho. The ATF estimates that 250 firearms went from Idaho down to California and to people associated with the cartels. The U.S. Attorney's Office said guns bought through this network of "straw purchasers" have been recovered at crime scenes in Idaho and other states in the west.
"Straw purchasing" is when someone who is legally allowed to have gun knowingly buys one, or more, for someone who is not allowed to have guns.
Hurwit said his office is prosecuting a few of these cases a year but he is concerned that these crimes are happening much more than they are catching them.
Federal law enforcement said they are also seeing a rise in people prohibited from having guns turning to "ghost guns," and using them in other crimes. "Ghost guns" are privately made firearms without a serial number and traditional markings, built with pieces from a kit, or separate parts ordered online.
While it's legal to build your own firearm, it's illegal federally to sell ghost guns without a serial number.
The federal government, including the FBI and ATF, does not have a registration list of all firearms and where they are purchased. But serial numbers on lawfully made firearms allow law enforcement to track the origins of the gun, including who originally purchased it and where it was manufactured. If a crime is committed, this tool assists law enforcement in their investigation. If serial numbers do not exist, law enforcement cannot trace the gun.
"It becomes problematic for law enforcement because you lose that crucial lead to investigate, maybe identify a straw purchaser, maybe identify a gun trafficker. You lose that," Miller told 7 Investigates.
"Ghost guns are attractive to criminals for that reason because they're much harder to trace," Hurwit added.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said it has more enhanced tools and penalties to get at the problem of straw purchasing. It leans on partnerships with not only the ATF, but local law enforcement to get illegal ghost guns, Glock switches and straw purchasers off the street. Amid a "troubling" increase of these crimes on a regular basis, Hurwit said he wants his office to "put our foot on the gas and do more of these cases."
But along with enforcement, federal officials say we all need to be aware, watch for red flags, report any concerns and practice gun safety in our day-to-day lives.
"Idahoans lawfully possess and use firearms, and that's not what this is about. This is about keeping firearms from reaching the hands of violent criminals, people that would use them to further their drug trafficking, for example, people that would use them against law enforcement," Hurwit said.
The Biden-Harris Administration established a rule in 2022 clarifying that all ghost gun kits, and some parts are required to be sold by a licensed dealer, be subject to a background check and have serial numbers.
Since states can create more restrictive gun laws, several states have begun regulating ghost guns, in particular. Just this month, a law went into effect in Oregon banning ghost guns.
Last year, Oregon outlawed the sale, transfer and import of unserialized firearms, as well as the possession, sale and manufacturing of firearms that can't be detected by a metal detector or x-ray.