Former Marine Charged With Illegally Possessing Chrome-Plated AK-47 That May Have Belonged to Saddam Regime
- Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:15am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (The Blaze/AP) — A federal jury in Southern California has convicted a former U.S. Marine of illegally possessing a chrome-plated AK-47 that may have once belonged to a member of Saddam Hussein’s royal guard.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Chiu said in a statement Tuesday that 40-year-old Joel Cleve Miller, of Twentynine Palms, was found guilty last week of illegally possessing a machine gun.
Miller was not convicted of transporting the weapon from Iraq.
City News Service has more:
According to court records, while serving on a 14-month combat tour in Iraq that ended in November 2005, the defendant got hold of a chrome-plated AK-47, an MP-5 submachine gun and an FAL automatic rifle.
The weapons were loaded into a sea bag, thrown onto a plane and sent to the U.S. after the Marine finished his overseas deployment, according to the prosecution’s trial brief. Customs officials apparently did not spot them.
Miller sold one gun to a friend for $500 and gave the other one away to a fellow Marine, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
When Miller and his wife divorced in 2007, she contacted Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents and informed them that her ex-husband had left the firearms at her Hemet home and she wanted them removed, according to court documents.
Weapons experts determined the gun was from Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan because of its markings.
(Facebook via The Daily Mail)
Miller was initially accused of possessing and selling another machine gun but was acquitted on those charges.
He faces up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Sept. 27.
Miller — a 20-year veteran — was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps in December for falsifying travel records.
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Comments (103)
OperationNorthwoods
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:46amSweet gun. Shame he might do 10 years for it. Hope he gets some leniency. I’ll say a prayer for you buddy.
Report Post »Gdubya316
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:35amHow can you be found guilty of illegally possessing a maching gun when the AK-47 is not a machine gun? Its a gas operated repeating rifle. Proof of two things. One never make a woman mad and Two never ever live in southern california
Report Post »bartjoebob
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:33pmif it had a full auto switch (which it probably did) and wasn’t already in the US prior to 1987, he is toast.
Report Post »single stack
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:39pmAll military issue AKs are full auto-no exceptions. The semi auto version sold in America is a civilian replica.
Report Post »Czechsix
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:31pmAh, actually MOST AKM’s (AK-47) carbines are full auto. There are actually some issued, factory built rifles that are semi-auto.
But in any case, yeah, full auto in California, due to state law, it’s illegal.
Report Post »Gdubya316
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:17pmHe should have just posed as a cartel member and Eric Holder would have given him way nicer stuff than that.
Report Post »AZRACISTBIGOT
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:24pmThe People’s Republic of California would love to label anyone a “Convicted Felon”.
Report Post »No more firearms of any type
No more vote
Armed Patriot
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:34pmAZRACISTBIGOT… You misspelled it. It is Peoplez Republik of Kalifornia.
As a firearms dealer in Peoplez Republik of Kalifornia, it is very hard to due business with anything other than mundane firearms. Ive been selling AK’s, AR15′s, FAL’s with bullet buttons installed to make them legal under Kalifornia law. Now before the state proletariat is a bill to make even possession of a bullet button a crime, and all of our legal rifles acquired since a State Supreme Court ruled in favor of us gun owners, we will now be criminals. The criminals dont care about breaking laws, but the proletariat, would make us all criminals.
Viva la revolution and hang em high.
Report Post »blanco5
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:19amThe wife is just as guilty for having knowledge that it existed before seeking the divorce.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:14amIt’s a felony to possess an automatic weapon (AK47), without the proper paperwork and tax stamps from the government. In this case, the paperwork option would not have been available. Decades ago civilians could own these guns without registration, but no more. I can’t see how a civilian could legally own this particular device unless it was deactivated (ie. receiver cut with a torch).
He shouldn’t have had the weapon, unless he was willing to face the penalty. I couldn’t tell you whether this fellows problem was born out of greed, ignorance or just plain stupidity. I do know that these requirements have been around for a long time, and they are not a secret. The government does not have a sense of humor about unregistered automatic weapons in civilian hands. I would not be surprised to find that this fellow will be going away for awhile.
Owning an unregistered automatic weapon is not worth the risk.
Report Post »savant
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:24pmOnly illegal if it is fully automatic. You can go to the gun shows and buy these from civilians all day without registration. I guess it would make a difference if you lived in California, since even Mustard for hot dogs causes cancer there. You can buy full auto trigger attachments that are legal. Always a way around everything.
Report Post »single stack
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:45pmNo you can’t Savant. You can buy semi auto replicas at gun shows. They’re made specifically for the American market. All foreign AK47s are full auto.
Report Post »harley3
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:18pmVery well said!!!!!
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:12pmCan anyone point out to me the constitutional amendment that altered the 2nd amendment so that the federal government could regulate any kind of arms? I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Until you find the constitutional amendment that denies me the rights guaranteed under the 2nd amendment, I’m just gonna spit on you and flip the bird because you are dead wrong. Further, if this nation ever passes an amendment that takes away my natural right of self defense, it will either be repealed within a day, or I will go out guns a blazing at my local federal building. I will not be a bystander as this government continues to take the rights of the people.
Report Post »JediKnight
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:19pmYou used to be able to buy nearly full auto trigger attachments. Those were basically a little lever that pulled the trigger as fast as you could spin it, but the gun would still be classified as semi-auto. I‘d be surprised if those aren’t illegal yet since they’re about to pass a law that would make mere possession of a conversion kit a criminal offense.
He should’ve moved out of California right after he came back or had someone out of state store it for him. Keeping anything fully auto in Cali, without a collectors permit, is a problem waiting to happen.
Report Post »VoteRightDammit
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:12amWhy do they go after Servicemen like this so much more aggressively than, for example, they go after Bradley Manning?
Report Post »KoolAidDrinker
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:33amAccording to the HHS secretary, he is a terrorist. In fact all vets are potential recruiting material for terrorist organizations. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/14/federal-agency-warns-of-radicals-on-right/
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:58pmHe should have claimed to be a muslim.
Report Post »undercover
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:12amI don’t get it – if he sold one and gave the other away how did they find the guns in his ex’s house?
Report Post »Patriot of My America
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:22pmHe had one left re-read the description of what he had as war booty. 3 weapons were shipped from the
Report Post »Iraq theater.
Despiser25
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:07amWhat should he have done, give it back to Saddam? No, this souvenir will be a highly prized item for the head of the Govt6 Dept to put on display in his office…
The Govt IS THE PROBLEM….
Report Post »KoolAidDrinker
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:17amHe should have ‘walked’ the gun into Mexico. Then he could claim executive privilege.
Report Post »Seabee1369
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:58amDid most folks not read the last sentence? He was already dishonorably discharged for a major offense.
Report Post »He made decisions he knew were wrong and now has to live with the consequences. Seems like a POS to me.
Wool-Free Vision
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:23pmHis discharge was for falsifying records (no doubt the customs forms where he did not report transporting the weapons from Iraq), and it just happened in December. The disgusting divorcee spitefully reported him to NCIS way back IN 2007.
So, no, he is not necessarily a POS. Probably just a gung ho marine who got caught up in the excitement of having confiscated such awesome trophies from the war he was fighting and made a bad decision, for which he is now paying DEARLY.
I am not nearly as disappointed in him for that bad decision as I am in a woman who would ruin his life like that. I suspect her motivation was less about “doing the right thing” and more about “sticking it to the ex.“ The costs for this ”crime” for this Marine Corps combat veteran FAR outweigh the egregiousness of his bad decision. The ex knew that reporting him would cost him EVERYTHING. And he could be sentenced to as much as ten years in prison. Man, that’s harsh.
I certainly believe he was wrong for smuggling those PARTICULAR spoils of war, but don‘t pretend that combat vets don’t smuggle trophies back home in their seabags ALL THE TIME. This guy just took it a little too far with his choice of trophy.
I think he should be penalized, it’s just a shame it will cost him so much. I hate the idea of a combat veteran being stripped of his benefits and everything over a single mistake, ESPECIALLY when he would‘ve been fine if not for a vindictive can’t understand normal thinking ratti
Report Post »Seabee1369
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:22pmIf you know its wrong and you still do it, then you are guilty. What laws are combat veterans allowed to break? Can we do it with reckless abandon?
Report Post »When we deployed to Iraq we were specifically told many times about trying to export weapons. We found dozens of caches with everything from Aks, rpgs, arty rounds, mortar tubes, and surface to air missiles. When we found them the highest ranking guy there was a Staff Sergeant. None of us took a weapon and sent it home and it would have been easy to do back then…I guess our integrity got in the way. Integrity…one of the Marine Corps Leadership principles.
Dishonorable Discharge and not a POS? I cannot equate the two.
Welcome Black Carter
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:37pmI don’t know of anyone who put in 20 that would qualify as a POS.
Report Post »stumpy68
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:43pmAnyone care to guess how many WW2 vets sent guns home
Report Post »as far as im concerned a vet should be able to own anything up to
and including artillery. As to his dishonorable discharge there is to little
information if its related to these guns its bs as far as im concerned.
Armed Patriot
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:41pmHe was a Marine. Not all bad in my book, even if he f-d up. Once a Marine, Always a Marine… better than a squid. Just kidding, you softer fellas are alright in my book, youre still serving. My son is a squid.
Report Post »maynardb61
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:52amSorry folks. I just do not feel sorry for him. He was mature enough to know better. Supposed to be a Marine, not a scavenger.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:02amLooks like a bad egg to me! Break the law and go to jail! He knew better!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:02amHorse manure! Let the Marine have the gun and drop the charges. What crap!
Report Post »Turin
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:07pmBah, let the guy keep his guns. 2nd amendment doesn’t have any restrictions despite what our wise overlords want to impose on us.
Report Post »wzanesdad
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:30pmRULER4YOU,
Report Post »I agree….according to the second ammendment, we should be allowed to own any gun we want.
KeystoneState
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:35amThat B I Itch should do time right along with him for keeping her trap shut while the times were good, but we all know, the military ALWAYS takes the side of the spouse and hangs the enlisted guy out to dry when any news story leaks out.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:34amEven the Marines have been infected…
Report Post »Ted Zeppelin
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:29amEvery real American should be granted immunity to at least one Federal Offense since the Federal Goverment has ignored the Federal Offense of illegally entering this country for about twenty to thirty million illegals all of whom should be deported.
Report Post »Winedude
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:58amYour numbers are inflated but no matter. What would you propose to do? Are you saying that all of them should be “rounded up” to detentions centers and then deported? If so, you have no idea of their contributions to the American economy.
Report Post »blanco5
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:15amNumbers are inflated? How the hell do you know???? They are here and unaccounted for so NO ONE knows how many there are! That’s why we are pi$$ed off at the system or lack of using the system. And YOU have no idea of how they’re hurting the American economy—-just drink your wine, dud.
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:34pmWinedude believes that America still needs slave labor. Way to go, Winedude. Profits at the vineyard are a lot better when you only have to pay slave wages to have your grapes picked.
The entire argument that illegal labor HELPS our economy is the most ridiculous steaming heap of BS since the moronic argument that “raising the minimum wage is a good thing.”
Report Post »SWODADDY
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:15amOnly good side to this is that without a pension and and only his prison pay, her alimony will be about 78 cents a month. She‘ll probably shack up with another military guy if she hasn’t already.
Slipstick is right saying “never tell your wife anything you don’t want repeated in Court”
Report Post »Fonz777
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:04amCOME ON – this is shameful to prosecute this hero of our country for a stupid gun. This is another shot from the gun of injustice – from the destroyers of our country.
Report Post »Doug in Seattle
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:57amThousands of American soldiers brought back similar trophies from Germany, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. These souvenirs now sell for $20K or more.
Report Post »Stink Fist
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:04amproblem is we had to throw away all our trophies in Iraq. Nobody got to keep anything except the officers
Report Post »Stryker
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:07am@Stinky -“ Nobody got to keep anything except the officers”
Not when I went. The officers went through the same customs as the enlisted. No trophies…period.
Report Post »Agenda21isEvil
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:53amWhat a evil woman.. Poor Marine, should have moved out of Cali asap..
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:58amNo kidding. Give the dude a break.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:47amHasn’t enough been done to this poor guy – put the man in prison and it will cost the taxpayer – be merciful !
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:45am20 years of service to his country thrown away by a single action and a angry ex-wife. Your sins shall be found out , the Lord said this and it is something for all of us to think about. I pray the Judge shows some mercy on Joel . But he did wrong, this has been going on for years …collecting war trophies , I guess it is a form of pride in what was accomplished .
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:41amHe had good taste when it came to guns……… not so much with women
Report Post »NotALiberal1
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:33amSounds like he “consistently” does STUPID things without learning his “lessons”! Looks like his actions have cost him his career, his retirement pension (possibly), and maybe, his FREEDOM! He doesn’t sound like the “sharpest tool in the shed”! THANKS for your 20 years of service anyway!
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:30amF’ing women. There are only 2 kind of women that marry marines. Those that are actually in love with the marine and the other is basically a whore
Report Post »alpha2omega47
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:38amHahahaha You’re right!
Report Post »fuzzy20841
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:18am“the bitch set me up”
Report Post »Slipstick
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:10amI learned you never tell your wife anything you don’t want repeated in Court…
Also, I never could understand why it’s OK to “own” an MG when you are in the service and it becomes a felony when you turn in your stripes.
Of course the DD this ninny earned makes him an embarrassment to the Corps.
Report Post »Semper Fi to the good ones!
Cavallo
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:48amBecause you don’t really have any freedom. It is an illusion. You live in a benevolent autocracy.
Report Post »Inlandmar2
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:07amDamn shame! A beautiful war trophy. Too bad he didn’t register it as a Class III weapon
Report Post »jackal
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:58amThen it would of had to of been declared upon arrival in the US to the ATF and that was not going to happen.There is talk when will the ATF have another amnesty program for all the unregistered F/A out there?I think Class IV can manufacture after declaration to the ATF of F/A and suppling serial numbers and these would be Post May86 samples for Militery and LEO’s
Report Post »Simon de Montfort
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:07am“Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned”. Miller knew better and has to live with the consequences. The ex-wife surely knew of the guns before the divorce and should have contacted NCIS long before the divorce. She is an accessory after the fact. Also a criminal act.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:31amNo she’s just a bitch
Report Post »