Patrick Adamiak

Patrick Tate Adamiak is an American man and former Navy sailor serving 20 years in federal prison for owning and selling illegal firearms.^[1][2] Adamiak was indicted in 2022 after special agents from the ATF recovered machine guns, two grenade launchers, and two anti-tank missile launchers in his possession. A jury found Adamiak guilty of three counts of receiving and possessing an unregistered firearm, and one count of unlawful possession and transfer of a machine gun.^[3]

Adamiak’s case has become a high-profile example cited by critics as evidence of federal overreach by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Key issues of alleged overreach:

• All of the 31 “machine guns” and 4 “destructive devices” were non-functional replicas, inert relics, or legally exempt signaling devices. Examples include:
  • Demilitarized RPG-7 launchers with no fire control components.
  • Flare launchers misclassified as grenade launchers despite clear exemption under federal law.
  • Unregulated parts falsely classified by ATF as fully functional machine gun receivers.
  • Receiver flats (“MAC flats”) lacking any capability to fire.
  • A Denix brand replica STEN submachine gun, which ATF rebuilt with their own parts, taped together, and fired a single round—counting it as a machine gun.
  • Semi-automatic pistols falsely classified as machine guns.
• Retired ATF Senior Special Agent Daniel O’Kelly, a certified firearms expert, concluded none of the seized items met the legal definition of an NFA firearm or destructive device ^{[4] [5]}

The prosecution’s case began with a confidential informant—a convicted felon with over 20 prior federal firearm convictions—who was facing new charges. In exchange for leniency, he claimed to have seen a belt-fed machine gun and MK-19 grenade launcher at Adamiak’s home. Both were later shown to be non-functional replicas ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Adamiak’s sentence was calculated at 43 federal sentencing points—the same as first-degree murder—despite no violent crime, no injuries, no victims, no selling/trafficking of actual firearms (as charged at sentencing) and the questionable legal status of the items. ^[8]

Supporters argue he sold inert collectibles and surplus parts primarily to online hobbyists and collectors. Some purchases were made by undercover agents, raising concerns about entrapment and selective enforcement. Many similar items remain openly for sale on public firearm parts websites today. ^[9]