Botched ATF sting in Milwaukee ensnares brain-damaged man
ATF agents running an undercover storefront in Milwaukee used a brain-damaged man with a low IQ to set up gun and drug deals, paying him in cigarettes, merchandise and money, according to federal documents obtained by the Journal Sentinel.
For more than six months, federal agents relied on Chauncey Wright to promote "Fearless Distributing" by handing out fliers as he rode his bike around town recommending the store to friends, family and strangers, according to federal prosecutors and family members.
Wright, unaware that the store was an undercover operation being run by agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, also stocked shelves with shoes, clothing, drug paraphernalia and auto parts, according to his family.
Once authorities shut down the operation, they charged the 28-year-old man with federal gun and drug counts.
A flawed operation
A Journal Sentinel investigation found failures and foul-ups in an undercover operation run by the ATF:
• ATF guns were stolen from an agent's vehicle; a machine gun remains unrecovered.
• The storefront was burglarized of nearly $40,000 in merchandise.
• Agents left behind sensitive documents after they shut down the operation.
• Agents damaged the building, then refused to pay the landlord, warning him against pursuing the matter.
• At least three of the wrong people were arrested and charged, including one who was in prison at the time.
• Authorities failed to capitalize on early leads to find the stolen machine gun.
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/botched-atf-sting-in-milwaukee-ensnares-braindamaged-man-pk9d6or-201794871.html
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