Dogged A Watchdog team blog SHARE

By of the

The U.S. Justice Department inspector general is reviewing the findings of a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation revealing how ATF used rogue tactics in storefront sting operations nationwide and is considering how he will investigate them.

In a letter to Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) released Friday, Inspector General Michael Horowitz wrote that he will “update the scope” of an investigation he launched earlier this year into a flawed storefront sting in Milwaukee, uncovered by the Journal Sentinel in January 2013.

After examining the Journal Sentinel findings, Horowitz wrote, “we intend to expand the scope of our ongoing review, and we will determine the most effective way for the OIG to review the additional allegations. After we have updated the scope, we will keep you informed of our determination.”

A spokesman for Horowitz declined to provide additional comment beyond what was in the Dec. 23 letter.

Horowitz is investigating Milwaukee’s Operation Fearless as part of an examination of reforms enacted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the wake of the disastrous Operation Fast and Furious. Agents in Arizona allowed criminals to obtain more than 2,000 guns, many of which ended up at crime scenes in Mexico.

Baldwin called the Milwaukee storefront a “failed operation” in a Feb. 1 letter, part of a bipartisan call by members of Congress for accountability in ATF regarding the stings.

On Friday, Baldwin's office released the letter from Horowitz. It also issued a statement that said, in part, “The ATF’s operations were totally inexcusable and Senator Baldwin looks forward to a comprehensive analysis of this matter and the release of the OIG report so that appropriate reforms can be implemented.”

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) also issued a statement Friday calling on ATF Director B. Todd Jones to hold people responsible for the stings. He also noted that ATF staff earlier indicated problems in the Milwaukee sting were isolated. The latest findings in the Journal Sentinel investigation shows that is not the case.

“The ATF’s mishandling of storefront operations is obviously more widespread than we were initially led to believe,” Sensenbrenner said in a statement. “Director Jones should hold bad actors accountable and ensure proper oversight measures are in place to prevent future ethical and tactical shortcomings by the agency.”

The Journal Sentinel found that the ATF used mentally disabled individuals to promote their operations in at least five cities — including paying one to get a tattoo on his neck advertising their storefront — and later had them charged with gun and drug crimes.

In Milwaukee, three guns belonging to the case’s lead undercover agent, including a machine gun, were stolen. The machine gun remains missing.

Across the country, agents put stings near schools and churches, increasing arrest numbers and penalties — and attracting juveniles with free video games and alcohol. They paid so much for guns and other goods that in some cities it encouraged burglaries. In some cases, defendants bought guns at stores such as Gander Mountain and sold them to undercover agents hours later for more than double what they paid.

On Thursday, a trio of powerful congressmen wrote a letter to Jones calling the agency’s tactics appalling, alarming, disturbing and “almost unimaginable” and demanded ATF answer questions about the storefront stings.