California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced the arrest and charges filed against two convicted felons at a San Bernardino gun show. The felons were charged after being found in possession of illegal firearms with the intent to sell them. This arrest was part of a broader investigation, which also led to the confiscation of rifles, large-capacity magazines, and ammunition as the result of a search warrant.
The investigation began when the suspects were seen inquiring about after-market gun parts at the gun show in San Bernardino. Following this, felony charges were filed by the California Department of Justice (DOJ), including counts for felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of unregistered assault weapons, manufacturing assault weapons for sale, and possession of a short-barreled rifle.
Attorney General Bonta conveyed the importance of enforcing firearm regulations: "As California’s chief law enforcement officer, protecting public safety and our communities from the threat of gun violence is my top priority. The regulations and protocols surrounding firearm purchases have been put in place to ensure the safety of Californians. When bad actors try to skirt the rules and bypass these integral processes, it creates situations with deadly consequences. Our Field Representatives and Special Agents are out in the field every day, working to protect the people of California by removing dangerous weapons from our communities."
On January 12, 2025, DOJ special agents were carrying out an enforcement operation at the National Orange Fair Grounds in San Bernardino during the gun show. Agents identified two convicted felons shopping for gun parts, both of whom were prohibited from gun possession due to previous felony convictions, including burglary, robbery, weapon violations, and sexual assaults.
Further investigation supported the suspicion that these individuals were involved in manufacturing and selling illegal weapons. A search warrant executed at one of the residences resulted in seizing an assault rifle-style machine gun, 13 pistols, 2 ghost guns, 9 rifles, 5 short-barreled rifles, approximately 160 large-capacity ammunition magazines, and over 20,000 rounds of ammunition. Hundreds of gun parts, manufacturing tools, and manuals were also confiscated.
While the charges have been filed, it is crucial to remember that criminal charges must be proven in a court of law, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A copy of the criminal complaint is available.