You may recall that KT Ordnance was raided for, err, well, no one really knows as it’s secret (See past coverage here and here). The latest at FMN:

A Montana gun-kit dealer’s home was raided by FBI, BATF, and Canadian law enforcement agents, after he gave “subversive” literature to his local Sheriff, according to a story posted on an online news site.

After distributing his handouts to the local Sheriff, Richard Celata reportedly got a phone call asking him to “come in” for a meeting, scheduled the day after the local elections. When Celata arrived at the office, he found the place half-full of BATF and FBI agents, who handed him a warrant to search his home. However, Celata noticed the warrant contained “no signed affidavit,” and was thus invalid. He was told the affidavit though it did exist, was “secret and sealed by the court.”

The raiders claimed five of the pistols found on the premises “were used to commit murders in Canada,” without further elaboration of details. In addition, Celata was reportedly questioned about his ownership of such dangerous materials as the Citizen’s Rulebook and speeches by George Washington. He was also questioned about “specific individuals in the freedom movement, including JPFO’s Aaron Zelman, author Devvy Kidd, and constitutional attorney Edward Vieira.” (The story notes that only by accessing his e-mail account, could the authorities have known of his interest in these individuals.) After a lengthy interrogation, Celata’s entire inventory of 80 percent finished gun frames was confiscated, and his computer’s hard drive copied (and crashed).

A few things:

Sooper seekrit warrants should be illegal

Why are Canadian law enforcement officers involved?

Speeches by George Washington are dangerous materials? Maybe if you’re Canadian.

Snooping emails for others who may be subversive?

Egad.

Update: More details here:

Celata said he knew he was in trouble as he was introduced to BATF and FBI agents and handed a search warrant and a promise that his premises were going to be raided.

“I read the search warrant and low and behold there’s no signed affidavit,” said Celata.

Celata told the Sheriff that the search warrant was therefore void to which the FBI and BATF responded that the affidavit was secret and sealed by the court.

“Now they can make up the affidavit to match what they found if they want to,” said Celata as he was told that the agents would carry out the search anyway.

Celata was then escorted by an estimated 40 FBI, ATF and Canadian law enforcement agents to his property. Salada asked if he could call his wife so as to enable her and their two small children to leave the property before the SWAT team arrived but was refused on the grounds that he was giving her a secret code to destroy evidence. However, the Sheriff allowed the call to be made and the family was able to leave. At no point was Celata shown any identification by any of the agents.

The cadre of agents, which now included Canadian AFT agents, then began the process of methodically cataloguing and seizing Salada’s possessions – bizarrely urinating on the exterior of the property ignoring the two bathrooms located inside the building.

Celata was told, without being shown any supporting evidence, that five of the pistols he had sold were used to commit murders in Canada.

“I said look, guns don’t kill people – people kill people,” said Celata.

So far, the only sources (other than one media mention I’ve found) are blogs, online boards, and such. So, take it for what it’s worth.

Posted in uncategorized on July 9th, 2006 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |