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3 Minnesota men operated machine gun distribution ring using Snapchat: Charges

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3 Minnesota men operated machine gun distribution ring using Snapchat: Charges


SnapChat icon displayed on a smart phone with in the background SnapChat logo, seen in this photo illustration, on August 20, 2023, in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo illustration by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Three men from the Twin Cities have been charged, accused of operating a machine gun distribution ring using Snapchat, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

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A press release on Friday said law enforcement disrupted a social media-based machinegun distribution ring that resulted in charges against three men: Rafael Carter Wesley, 19; Kyrees Darious Johnson, 22; and Avont Akira Drayton, 21. They are each charged with one count of unlawful possession of machine guns. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, citing court documents, said in March, authorities learned of a Snapchat group called BLICCS&STICCS3, which they suspected was used to traffic machine guns, firearms, and controlled substances in the Twin Cities and beyond. Authorities have screenshots and videos of several people in the group who were selling, promoting and operating machine gun conversion devices, known as MCDs, which convert semi-automatic firearms into a fully automatic machine gun.

Court documents state between March and June of this year, undercover law enforcement officers conducted six controlled buys with multiple members of the Snapchat group. Here’s how the press release describes some of the buys:

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  • An undercover officer on March 20 began monitoring the Snapchat group and posted a photo of a prop firearm to the group, the release states. Soon after, a user later identified as Wesley, reached out to the undercover officer and asked if he wanted to trade the gun for a Glcok “switch” or a “button.” On March 26, the undercover officer continued chatting with Wesley on Snapchat about potentially buying Glock “switches,” which would cost $700 for two or $900 for three. The undercover officer agreed to buy three switches for $900 and said he’d pay an extra $100 if Weley delivered the switches to St. Cloud. They met on March 27, and Wesley sold the officer the switches for $1,000. 
  • On April 4, Wesley and another group member, later identified as Johnson, sold three switches to an undercover officer in St. Paul for $900.
  • Then on April 13, undercover officers met with Wesley in Minneapolis to buy an unserialized Glock for $700, and asked Wesley to install the switch. He agreed, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says. The same day, Wesley coordinated a separate meeting during which undercover officers met with Drayton, another member of the Snapchat group, to buy a 3D printed drop-in MCD for an AR-style rifle for a price of $550. During that buy, Drayton showed the officers a video on his phone of him shooting a gun with a drop-in MCD inserted, and said it makes the firearm shoot “way too [expletive] fast.”
  • On May 11, 2023, an undercover officer arranged to meet with Drayton in Eagan to buy drop-in MCDs. Then on June 9, undercover officers met with him to buy a Glock piston and a switch. 

Johnson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, according to federal law due to prior felony convictions. Meanwhile, Wesley and Drayton are subject to court-imposed restrictions that prohibit them from possessing firearms. 

Johnson and Drayton appeared in court on Friday, while Wesley made his first appearance on Sept. 14.



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NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. forecast for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024

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NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. forecast for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024


NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. forecast for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 – CBS Minnesota

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Things will stay pretty mild as we head into the weekend. Temps will remain in the upper 30s to low 40s. As we head into the near year our temps do drop. Chris Shaffer breaks down what you need to know.

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Houston takes home win streak into matchup with Minnesota Timberwolves

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Houston takes home win streak into matchup with Minnesota Timberwolves


Minnesota Timberwolves with a record of 15-14 and ranked ninth in the Western Conference match off against Houston Rockets with a record of 21-9 and ranked second in the Western Conference. The game is in Houston at 7 p.m. CST on Friday.

Houston aims to extend its three-game home winning streak.

The Rockets have gone 13-7 against Western Conference opponents. Houston ranks fifth in the NBA with 51.5 points in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 12.5.

The Timberwolves have gone 12-9 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota scores 109.1 points and has outscored opponents by 2.2 points per game.

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The Rockets are shooting 44.3 percent from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 45.7 percent the Timberwolves allow to opponents.

The Timberwolves are shooting 45.7 percent from the field, 2.2 percent higher than the 43.5 percent the Rockets’ opponents have shot this season.

A top performer for the Rockets is Sengun who is scoring 18.3 points per game with 10.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and four assists.

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In the last ten games, the Rockets have held a record of 7-3, averaging 111.6 points, 49.3 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.7 blocks per game. The shooting average has been 44.6 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.

For the Timberwolves’ last ten games, they have had an average of 6-4, averaging 105.2 points, 45.0 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 10.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per game. They have been shooting 44.6 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points.

Rockets’ Dillon Brooks has an ankle injury. Tari Eason is also on rest.

Timberwolves’ Daishen Nix and Luka Garza are out due to an ankle injuries. Joe Ingles is also injured.



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Houston takes home win streak into matchup with Minnesota

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Houston takes home win streak into matchup with Minnesota


Associated Press

Minnesota Timberwolves (15-14, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (21-9, second in the Western Conference)

Houston; Friday, 8 p.m. EST

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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rockets -1.5; over/under is 213.5

BOTTOM LINE: Houston hosts Minnesota aiming to extend its three-game home winning streak.

The Rockets have gone 13-7 against Western Conference opponents. Houston ranks fifth in the NBA with 51.5 points in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 12.5.

The Timberwolves have gone 12-9 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota scores 109.1 points and has outscored opponents by 2.2 points per game.

The Rockets are shooting 44.3% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 45.7% the Timberwolves allow to opponents. The Timberwolves are shooting 45.7% from the field, 2.2% higher than the 43.5% the Rockets’ opponents have shot this season.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Sengun is scoring 18.3 points per game with 10.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Rockets.

Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and four assists for the Timberwolves.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 111.6 points, 49.3 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.

Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 105.2 points, 45.0 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 10.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Dillon Brooks: day to day (ankle), Tari Eason: day to day (rest).

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Timberwolves: Daishen Nix: out (ankle), Joe Ingles: day to day (soleus), Luka Garza: out (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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