Gun Dealers Sentenced To Prison For Manufacture, Possession And Sale Of Illegal Machine Guns

PHOENIX, Ariz. – On June 20, 2013, Randolph Benjamin Rodman, 60, of Crownsville, Md., and Idan C. Greenberg, 59, of Glendale, Ariz., both licensed gun dealers, were sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Roslyn O. Silver to 121 months and 33 months in prison, respectively. On Dec. 20, 2012, Rodman was found guilty by a federal jury of 22 charges including conspiracy; illegal possession of a machine gun; obliterating the serial numbers of firearms; the manufacturing, possession, receipt and transfer of machine guns in violation of the National Firearms Act (NFA); and making false entries on applications and records.Greenberg was found guilty by the same federal jury of four charges involving conspiracy; illegal possession of a machine gun; receipt and possession of a firearm transferred in violation of the NFA; and receipt and possession of a firearm made in violation of the NFA.

“Enforcement of gun laws, particularly the regulation of machine guns, is essential to public safety. The defendants’ convictions and sentences demonstrate our commitment to prosecute those who violate gun laws, including licensed gun dealers,” said U.S. Attorney, John S. Leonardo.

"This was a very challenging and complicated investigation involving machine guns (NFA weapons) and fraud. These Federal Firearms Licensees violated the public’s trust and defrauded countless customers of their NFA weapon purchases. I hope their lengthy sentences serve notice to those that might consider committing the same criminal acts," stated ATF Special Agent in Charge, Thomas Atteberry.

Between Sept. 22, 1993, and continuing through April 8, 2009, Rodman and Greenberg conspired with other persons to defraud the United States in its regulations of machine guns, including the 1986 machine gun ban.  In order to circumvent the machine gun regulations, the defendants had the serial numbers from over 30 inexpensive, registered machine guns cut-off and welded onto completely different and more expensive models of machine guns that were illegally manufactured.  The defendants would then transfer or sell the newly manufactured illegal machine guns by falsely utilizing the registration of the original machine gun. 

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The prosecution was handled by Kathy J. Lemke, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and James P. Vann, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-10-001047-PHX-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER:     2013-046_Rodman&Greenberg

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/