Timothy John Watson of Ransom, West Virginia, was arrested by federal agents this week for selling full-auto AR-15 sears disguised as “portable wall hangers” from a website dubbed portablewallhanger.com (still up as of 11/5 @ 2:07PM).
The product is ostensibly designed to hang keys, lanyards, and other small objects in a place where they can be easily accessed because, according to the site, “searching for your keys really sucks!”
They even provide a helpful assembly video.
SEE ALSO: Dave Bautista Defends Biden’s Record on Guns, Calls People ‘Idiots’ For Using AR-15 for Self-Defense
But the FBI accuses Watson of using the product as a thinly veiled cover for manufacturing and selling 3D-printed plastic sears that allow semi-automatic AR-15s to be converted into fully automatic machine guns. (The plastic “hanger” is the sear, which can be easily removed from the wall mount and installed into the firearm.)
The FBI says Watson does not have the federal licenses necessary to manufacture or sell such a product, and he’s facing felony charges of conspiracy, illegal possession and transfer of a machine gun and unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing firearms.
He was operating his business between January and October of this year, and the FBI says he sold about 600 of the products.
According to a criminal complaint filed by FBI Special Agent Mark McNeal, the 30-year-old Watson came to the FBI’s attention after one of Watson’s customers, Steven Carrillo, was accused of shooting security officers at a federal building in Oakland in May and members of the Santa Cruz (Calif.) County Sheriff’s Office in June. A security officer died in the former incident, and a sheriff’s deputy died in the latter.
While it’s unclear whether Carrillo had installed one of Watson’s sears in the AR-15 he used in the two shootings, McNeal uses the connection to tie Watson to the infamous “Boogaloo Boys.”
McNeal notes that Watson hosted a fundraiser for Duncan Lemp, who has become a kind of martyr for the anti-government movement after he was shot and killed by police during a no-knock raid in March. A “cooperating defendant,” who the FBI nabbed trying to sell one of Watson’s sears to an undercover agent, also said he heard about Portable Wall Hangers in online Boogaloo forums.
SEE ALSO: Exclusive: How the FBI’s Bureaucratic Incompetence is Denying Citizens Their 2A Rights
The company’s Instagram page has been taken down, but McNeal and the FBI recorded several examples of the ways Watson and his customers tried to speak about the sears using “coded” language.
“First off I’m not a fed or LEO. I know.. exactly what one would say. But I just got your wall hanger in the mail, but I can ‘t quite figure out how to ‘hang it on my wall’ so I can ‘grab my keys a lot quicker. ‘Do you have any resources to show a customer how its [sic] used?” one customer asked via email.
One Instagram user commented that the hangers “only work in armalite Walls” and another said, “I don’t mind seeing redcoats lying on the floor, but prefer to leave em properly hanging #twitchygurglythings.”
This is the ideal wall hanger. You may not like it but this is what peak performance looks like. pic.twitter.com/vtriZJQ9t6
— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) November 4, 2020
Watson was being held in Eastern Regional Jail Tuesday night after an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Robert W. Trumble, according to local media.
all gun laws are unconstitutional. defund the atf. if you are the victim of an unconstitutional search and seizure then exercise your 2nd amendment.
Kind of was offering my opinion. If you think that every ANTIFA & BLM member should be allowed to have select fire weapons – that certainly is YOUR OPINION.
As a gunsmith – I can get one running in under a 1/2 hour. 2 holes – 1/2 dozen drop-in parts in the FCG (and the correct bolt to trip the sear) and we’re up and running. I have the locating holes drilled in my 80% finishing jig (courtesy of a buddy that ran a C-III SOT shop) – perfectly legal. After servicing many of these in my time in .mil – I can do a FCG R&R with my eyes closed. And you can BET YOUR BUTT I HAVE ZERO PARTS ONSITE that will go into anything I have on premises.
I agree – and the biggest issue with the NFA registry is people not making PROPER ARRANGEMENT for their stamped weapons – and their wives handing them over to BATFE when they die – never to be seen again. Which is why a corp or a trust is still the best way to hold tax stamped weapons – even if you live in a jurisdiction that will sign off on a Form IV (mine will not).
So it’s not a matter of “finding a way” – the law (for better or worse) is the law – and isn’t likely to change in my lifetime. And if things keep going with the dems, they way the left wants to go – it is highly likely that everything in my vault , that was on the last GCA that failed in congress, will be on the next one.
As I mentioned – I’m against any infringement – but I also live in the political reality of the U.S.A. in 2020. This guy – and the guy that was making the “fuel filter suppressors” are just asking to get locked up.
And we all snicker, when we shoot our “pistols with braces” off our shoulders – knowing that they are actually SBR’s – but a loophole lets us get away with it (for now – that will likely be one of the first “BAFTE Technical Division Opinions that gets changed in a Harriss admin – and that includes 5 platforms in my vault – so I’m none too happy about it).
And if they can grab the GA seats in the run-off – they will ram sheet through SO FAST – we won’t even be able to keep up.
I don’t make the rules – I just know what they are, where the line is – and how far I can sneak up on it, without having someone banging on my door with a warrant.
Eat another donut real quick to spike your blood pressure so you keel over and die. Your generation sat by idly while the 68 GCA gutted American gun culture.
Boomer we can certainly see by your comment the character of your generation and how noble it is… I’m sure you’ll deflect any responsibility for anything that happens in your lifetime as someone else’s fault.. have a latte day.
They do because they are scared of us!
I’ve been on multiple forums including some gun forums. People are stupid and can’t keep their mouths shut. Why the hell would you say “it only works in Armalite walls”. Do they think people are just stupid. If you are FBI or law enforcement you are probably aware of Armalite and what it is.
I’m on a forum in California. I keep telling the moderators to permanently delete information after 90 days. They refuse and I get flamed by fellow members.
It’s no different than when we had single shot exemptions. It was people running their mouths and news reporter got wind of it. That legal loop hole got closed quickly.
What law was the single shot exemption a loophole for?
this seems to be quite the LIBERAL site, I posted 3 or 4 comments to others and they don’t like them so they don’t post them, just like Farce Book and Twitter, it’s all OK to say as long as they agree with you.
Auto Sears are not controlled items nor are they illegal to possess. This is some over step at the highest level.
Sorry, you are WRONG> AR15 Drop In Auto Sears (DIAS) manufactured after October 31st, 1981 are considered machine guns and are therefore regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934. IMPORTANT: Despite this ruling, possession of ANY Drop In Auto Sear along with an AR-15 with some M16 parts constitutes a machinegun.
ATF Ruling 81-4 – Drop In Auto Sear (DIAS)
Since they can not tell WHEN your specific Drop in sear was made, they will Assume that it is illegal unless you have some kind of very credible proof that it was owned before the 1981 cut off date. Also, if you have any AR-15 in your possession, along with one of those Legally owned Pre 1981″ auto sears, wether or not you have the rest of the parts, it would be considered constructive possession according to past cases. I would seal it in something waterproof and bury it where nobody can find it.
Actually – registered DIAS’s are serialized and have a Form IV stamp that goes along with them.
ANYTHING THE CAN SHOOT SELECT FIRE IN CIVILIAN HANDS HAS A TAX STAMP – otherwise, it is an UNREGISTERED MACHINE GUN…
you are a moron.
Failed to mention in the article – that Steven Carrillo (the guy arrested for shooting cops in Cali) was also an ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE SERGEANT. Which to me – is the scarier part of that whole part of the story – like WTF is going on with our enlisted personnel? The guy was also no amatuer when it came to training and weapons.
https://abc7news.com/steven-carrillo-santa-cruz-carillo-california-sheriff-deputy-killed/6236742/
At any rate – MERE POSSESSION of select fire parts isn’t a crime – having them in the same place as a firearm they can be installed in, makes that firearm A MACHINE GUN – even if the parts aren’t installed. Likewise – in the case of ACTUAL SELECT FIRE INSTALLATIONS (not plastic sears) – just having the “magic 3rd hole” (for the auto sear roll pin) in a receiver, makes it a machine gun.
Part of the 2A IS to keep the government in check – READ THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, as well as to provide for adequate defense against “enemies both foreign and domestic”, in the absence of keeping a full-time standing army. ALL able-bodied citizens ARE the militia – the “organization” part is for when the time comes where they are NECESSARY (and doesn’t mean they need to be “organized” AT ALL TIMES). The right to defend ones self IS GOD GIVEN. The bill of rights are not things granted to the people by government – but THAT WHICH GOVERNMENTS CANNOT TAKE AWAY. GOD gave me those rights – the Bill of Rights enumerates that which THE GOVERNMENT MUST RESPECT.
Much as I consider ANYTHING in the Gun Control Act to be “infringement” – not all that sure I want to see EVERYONE ARMED WITH A SELECT FIRE WEAPON. There’s a reason why .mil is set for “3 shot burst”. I’ll take heat for this from my fellow 2A’ers – but I’m pretty sure I don’t want any/every yahoo to be able to walk out of their local Walmart with a machine gun in their hands.
Machine guns are FUN TO SHOOT – a buddy has a few (legal ones) – nothing like blowing a 100 round drum downrange.
But being a GOOD SHOT – and having GOOD TACTICS are more valuable, than having a “spray & pray” machine gun.
And what’s with these “fuel filter suppressors” being pimped on FB?
Yeah – we could wish that the Federal Bureau of Invented-crimes would focus on the MORE PRESSING ISSUES of our time. And I wonder why BATFE Agents didn’t make the arrest – they have arrest powers too.
This is an interesting case – and the dude was AN A-HOLE THAT WAS ASKING TO GET CAUGHT – 2A issues aside.
If you read the Criminal Complaint Affidavit:
https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/Timothy%20John%20Watson%20Criminal%20Complaint.pdf
Where this guy hits the feds radar, is the BOOGALOO MOVEMENT – which the feds consider a domestic terrorist group (whereas ANTIFA is “just an idea” – and BLM is a “civil rights group”), and being traced back to the Steven Carrillo case.
Yeah – he’s gonna do some SERIOUS TIME. The guy was manufacturing DIAS – which were LEGAL WHEN REGISTERED (and serialized) under the “Hughs Act 1986” and grandfathered in (along with all the other Class III rifles and devices), plus he had them in the same place as a firearm they could be installed in. So they have him DEAD TO RIGHTS – possession/transfer of (unregistered) machine guns – conspiracy – and unlicensed SOT.
Thanks to GA for putting this up here. If any of our readers bought one of these things – YOU CAN ALMOST EXPECT A VISIT FROM THE FEDS. They have all this guys transaction records, emails – EVERYTHING.
You want something fun to shoot – and (still) legal in a number of states (and not federally illegal – YET) – get something like a Franklin Binary Trigger. Fun to shoot, almost as fast as select fire, still (somewhat) legal and won’t get you in prison for a decade.
I had a Mac 10 many years ago couldn’t hit the Barn wall standing inside the barn but it sure could burn up the ammo, I have NEVER had use for a full Auto anything, I’d rather take ONE shot and be done, if you want crowd control that’s what the 12Ga Riot gun is for not a full Auto anything.
Absolutely correct! I’ll take a 12 gauge semi auto tactical rifle any day, as my first choice for riot control!
First things first. CONGRESS CAUSED THIS ISSUE WHEN THEY CLOSED THE NFA REGISTRY FOR LEGALLY OWED FULL AUTO WEAPONS IN 1986 ! People would not need to find illegal ways to do this IF they could buy and register a weapon that they could legally acquire and AFFORD with the proper tax stamp and checks. Since they closed this registry in 1986, the firearms in it went astronomically because of “limited” supply. Second, who are YOU to say that i should not be able to own one if i wanted one ? Finally, you will NEVER stop someone that really wants one from getting one. The blueprints have been in the wind for the last 40 or more years. As long as you know how to read them, or have even have a technical enough mind without the prints, you can make what ever you want.
I was thinking the same thing about you, comrade.
I don’t believe nothing that comes out of the FBI. Period. They’ve shown themselves to be nothing but hot air for the longest time and completely useless in todays world. The only cases they can crack are garage door pull NOOSES and false flag operations to kidnap a sitting governor. They along with a host of other 3 letter agencies should be completely dismantled.
Kevin you said it, those agencies are nothing but over educated baby sitters of maybe Criminals
” A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have Sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from “any”, who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government “. George Washington, quote. Our forefathers were smart enough to know, that we would advance in technology, or we would be back to the HORSE AND BUGGY, Not fly, or go to the moon,, etc.. come on people, and it just a privilege, to drive a vehicle, the most dangerous weapon we all put in our hands everyday proves it. Dont see everytime thats abused by bad elements in our society SOME, CONSTANTLY WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ALL? Our society has mllions of everyday.things that can used, from the bad elements in our society to abuse. You dont put the whole town in jail for someone robbing the bank. Due process is the law, and PROFILLING LAW OBIDING CITIZENS TO THE CRIMINAL ELEMENTS , LAST TIME CHECKED IS UNLAWFUL, and is descrimination. This.country has liberated tyrantical.counties with better weapons than we can own here, a free people and we have been nickled and dimed to death with our second amendment INFRINGED ON CONSTANTLY. Our government has proved over and over again its corrupt in many ways. WE ARE THE PEOPLE, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR ELECTED CITIZENS, WHO WORK FOR US TO ASSURE OUR FREEDOMS. THE 2nd Amendment was not put in conststution, God forbid if came down to it , to whom would win or loose if a free society got abused by its government, it was a deterant to keep it from happening. And these protections are individual no ones to take, especially from those who they protect us from? Redundant and stupid to think so. Where does it stop, the repression of a free people if we can defend from that, is tyrany. The government is the people, not.tyrants to make us kneel. We came from that to build a free society of the people and is why we have our Constatution and the 2nd Amendment, and is its protection period. Those who do not see this is delusional, and a law obiding citizen should be able to defend therself with the best means possible, not with a musket or a horse and buggy. Cant fix stupid.
It’s hard to say EXACTLY when the problem became, well, a problem, but let’s just use the Act of 1871. Since that time, there has been this perpetual mission creep to keep the US from reaching its fullest potential. Perhaps those European elites thought that a future 2A BBQ might draw enough rib lovers to start a small army large enough to quash any of the European monarchies, ……… or perhaps they just saw the US as always being a dangerous wildcard and a threat to their existence.
Nevertheless, Teddy Roosevelt wasn’t helping their blood pressure with his Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which basically expanded the US’s perceived right to defend those countries within its immediate sphere of influence, and pushed that right out to include anywhere on the planet where America had an “interest”.
And not all that surprisingly, the Militia Act of 1903 (Dick Act), while not addressing civilian gun ownership or control, specifically, probably did worse by allowing for more centralized Federal control of the formerly several states’ militias. That move conveniently took the burdensome responsibility of having monthly drills away from the 18-45 year olds in the population, who would rather be out picnicking in the meadows. Since many Civil War veterans would still be in their late 50s by 1903, the general population would have probably welcomed any atmosphere that didn’t require more gunfire. And again, why be burdened with those laborious drills and musters? Let the government handle those chores.
In the time of the framers, “well-regulated” meant well drilled or well practiced; hence the drills and musters, but the Dick Act pulled that rug out from under the civilian population because, now, the average citizen doesn’t have the opportunity to muster and drill unless he/she joins the Guard or puts themselves under the watchful eye of the FBI and BATFE because they joined a true “militia” group.
Currently there are no cases of “election fraud” for any federal agency to prosecute. None. That is a “Trumped-up” myth. Further, regarding corrupt politicians, you will find that politicians Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, Joseph Arpaio, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Michael Cohen, George Papadopoulos and many others, including corrupt Russian politicians have all been dutifully arrested by the FBI and U.S. Marshal’s Service, these diligent federal agents and those of other federal agencies also investigate human trafficking, child abuse (There are no cases of “Child sex trafficking” – if you know of any – even one, please contact your local FBI field office). BATF handles gun matters and they tipped off the FBI about “Red coat hanger packs” which are not guns, but more of a conspiracy case, so they thought the FBI would be the more appropriate agency. These kinds of anti-government criminals are often captured easily because of their incredibly stupid online remarks, attitudes, affiliations, gossip, statements and intentions which invariably catch the eye of federal agencies who monitor ALL internet communications 24/7/365. Forums and chat rooms, Facebook and twitter are daily Christmas presents to federal law enforcement. And once they set their sights on someone’s intemperate remarks on online, it is not likely that they ever cease that surveillance, even for a moment. That person’s actual or assumed name and I.P. are lit up forever
What does this article have to do with Biden/Harris committing election fraud? You are a political hack, read the constitution and get off CNN.
How many Affidavits have you reviewed that swear out widespread election fraud in key battleground states with large Democrat political machines. This is what 1984 in real life looks like. Gaslighting.
Great points, and well said!
Yesterday, the 12th, the Chairman of the Federal Election Commission said there was widespread fraud. If you want to talk about child trafficking, the Border Patrol can fill your lying arse in on all that.
They’ll have to kill a lot of us before we join your Brave New World.
You are entirely misinformed if you think the 2nd amendment was or is designated to intimidate or revolt against the US government. At the time the 2A was written, “A well regulated militia” SOLE purpose was for use in co-ordinated military action against current FOREIGN foes of the government, i.e. Britain, formerly France and concurrently Spain, all of whom had designs on North American soil. It was true then and is true now that anyone intending to use firearms against the US government was/is an enemy of said government and by extension, an enemy of the citizens that government represents and is sworn to protect. 2A is not a defense for insurrection, and that point was carried home with extreme prejudice in 1861-1865
Gaslighting. Tell me what “shall not be infringed” means and come back.
Calling BS on that one ! First, the framers recognized that the RIGHT to bear arms was a GOD GIVEN RIGHT. It is codified in the bill of rights . There are plenty of statements made by the founding fathers to back up the fact that weapons in the hands of “the PEOPLE” prevent TYRANNY ! Anyone with half a brain should be able to see that what they went through, and why they codified this RIGHT in an amendment. They had just cast off an oppressive government , and knew the dangers of having a government that was better armed than the people that they served !
Arresting him for Shooting at Federal officers is a good thing. If he engages to modify weapons outside the law, and get nabbed for that, it’s also a good thing.
However if someone is arrested for having something that may be used for something other than it’s advertised intended purpose, that’s a slippery slope. I use my claw hammer on nails, but it is a deadly weapon in the wrong hands….. if you have a milling machine and a chunk of raw steel, can they make the case you have the potential to be a criminal ?
Almost anything can be defined as a “deadly weapon” if it is actually used, or an attempt is made to use it to do serious bodily harm to a person. There is also a category of “Dangerous instrument.” The statutes contain three definitions of “dangerous” or “deadly” weapon, and none of them are exactly alike. Two, those used to regulate such weapons by requiring permits and to prohibit them from being carried in cars, contain very similar, but not identical, lists of specific weapons. The third, which is used in the penal code in the context of many criminal offenses, is less specific. All three contain general language to indicate that they are intended to cover any dangerous or deadly weapon, not just those specified in the statute.
A number of court decisions have interpreted these definitions, but none has construed them in a very general way. Rather, for the most part the court has dealt with the question of whether a specific weapon in a particular circumstance is a dangerous or deadly weapon. In some instances the courts have found a weapon to be dangerous per se and in other cases the determination of dangerousness has depended on how it was used. In various circumstances a razor, a sawed-off billiard cue, a garden hose, a can opener, and a key have been found to be dangerous and deadly.
Federal statutes also contain several definitions of dangerous weapons and again, they are not identical. I did not attempt to identify and summarize all of the relevant federal statutes, but I would be happy to do so, if you wish. Here are some for the state of Connecticut:
Statutes
Weapon
29-38
53-206
53a-3
pistol
y
revolver
y
dirk knife
y
y
switch knife
y
y
y (switchblade)
knife with auto spring and blade over 1½ inches
y
y
slung shot
y
y
black jack
y
y
sand bag
y
y
metal knuckles
y
y
y
brass knuckles
y
y
stiletto
y
y
knife with blade 4 in. or more
y
y
martial arts weapon
y
y
air rifle
y
BB guns
y
electronic defense weapon
y
gravity knife
y
billy
y
bludgeon
y
“All three contain general language to indicate that they are intended to cover any dangerous or deadly weapon, not just those specified in the statute.” How does that jibe with “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”? Also not specific. But more general in that We The People’s right to keep and bear arms is not to be infringed. “Regulation” by government of nearly any kind of weapon is expressly prohibited. So, lets start there and put these tyrannous court decisions, and erroneous legislation where they belong. In the trash.
What, they left out the Baseball Bat with 20 penny nails and the Bike lock chain with a 2# Hammer head attached, or the Big hand attached to a Very Strong arm that can stop a heart with one blow. ???
I’ve been trying to find where it says that we the people can’t own automatic firearms and try as I might I just can’t find it in there. It does say something about a militia and the right to keep and bear arms not being infringed. If the 2nd amendment was put in to keep a ready militia why would that militia not be allowed to have ,military grade weapons? I’ve heard people say “you don’t need a machine gun” or “you don’t need that assault rifle”. Well actually we do need these as that is why we have the 2nd amendment. The 2nd amendment isn’t about people going out hunting. It’s about keeping this government in check. Military grade weapons would be helpful in that endeavour.
Great post
Great post !
Glad federal agents care more about this than they do about election fraud or politicians laundering money or child sex trafficking. Glad they could spend time and tax dollars investigating little pieces of plastic. I wonder how many crimes they preventing by getting these malicious pieces of evil plastic off the streets…
How are you morons still allowed on the internet??! Incredible!
Same question could be asked of you.
Spoken like a true fascist. So you want to determine who gets to do what now, do you?
2 thumbs up.
Don’t forget, the FBI cares about “nooses” enough to send 13 agents to Talladega, AL to investigate a pull down rope in Bubba “Juicy” Wallace’s garage. The FBI cares.