There is no need for a police force with 90 machine guns in a town of 800 people.
Bradley Wendt, the Chief of Police of Adair, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday on charges of making false statements to obtain machine guns over a four-year period.
The weapons were sold through Wendt's private gun store or another store owned by a friend who is facing charges.
Wendt used his position as police chief to obtain 10 machine guns for the official use of the police department, but later resold at least six of those weapons for significant profit.
Wendt obtained 13 guns for his gun store under the pretense that they would be used as demonstration models for future purchases. Williams Contracting, a business Williams owned, obtained another 10 weapons in the same way.
The Senate is considering the confirmation of the ATF.
According to prosecutors, Wendt wanted to purchase or demonstrate 90 machine guns. Some of the weapons were used for public machine gun shoots where Wendt and Williams charged customers money to be able to shoot them.
An M60 machine gun, a belt-fed weapon widely used by the U.S. military since the Vietnam war, is one of the firearms described in the indictment.
The M60 was mounted on his armored vehicle.
Wendt wanted to get the department a minigun that could fire 50 rounds per second. The request for a transfer was denied.
The police department doesn't own a helicopter.
Some of the weapons supposedly obtained for the police department were bought with Wendt's personal funds, and it is not known if city money was involved in the purchases.
Wendt is accused of making a false statement and having a machine gun. Williams is accused of making false statements and aiding and abetting. At least 35 machine guns are being sought for forfeiture by prosecutors.
Eugene Kowel, a senior FBI agent based in Omaha, said in a statement that Brad Wendt is accused of exploiting his position as chief of police to unlawfully obtain and sell guns for his own personal profit. The FBI will investigate and hold accountable those who violate their oath of office to enrich themselves.
The city placed Wendt on leave after federal agents raided his gun stores. The city did not reply to an email asking if he was still employed. The city clerk's phone number could not be reached.
The case against Wendt and Williams was not listed in online court records as of Thursday afternoon.
William Morris is a court reporter for the Register. He can be reached by email at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or on social media.
The article originally appeared on the Des Moines Register.
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