Adair Chief of Police, 47-year-old Bradley Eugene Wendt of Denison, was convicted yesterday (Wednesday) by a federal jury in Des Moines on charges of conspiring to make false statements to the ATF, making false statements to the ATF, and illegal possession of a machine gun. Wendt, also the owner of BW Outfitters, a federal firearms licensee, allegedly exploited his position as a law enforcement official to acquire machine guns for personal use and profit. Between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt, in his capacity as Chief of Police, purportedly wrote nearly 40 law letters requesting the purchase or demonstration of 90 machine guns for the Adair Police Department. The jury found him guilty of making false statements in these letters, indicating the machine guns were for official use while later reselling them for a personal profit of almost $80,000. Wendt faces a combined maximum prison sentence of up to 60 years, including up to five years for the conspiracy count, five years for each of the 10 false statement counts, and up to ten years for illegal possession of a machine gun. Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen says, “Mr. Wendt was in a position of trust, and his egregious behavior betrayed the community he was entrusted to protect. Wendt was sworn to uphold the law, but instead, he abused his authority as the Chief of Police for his own personal benefit.” Sentencing is scheduled for June 14. The FBI and ATF led the investigation, and U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal commended the dedicated work of the agencies and the trial team in holding Wendt accountable for betraying public trust and abusing his authority.
