Federal charges: Sting disrupts Snapchat group that sold illegal 'switches,' ghost guns in Minnesota

A federal undercover operation disrupted a Snapchat group and arrested three men who were trafficking in illegal machine gun conversion devices – also known as switches or auto sears – and privately made “ghost guns,” according to newly unsealed charges. Rafael C. Wesley, 19, of Brooklyn Center, Kyrees D. Johnson, 22, of Minneapolis, and Avont A. Drayton, 21, of Burnsville, are charged in U.S. District Court with unlawful possession of machine guns, specifically that they sold these devices to undercover agents on numerous occasions this past spring. All three remain jailed ahead of court appearances Tuesday in St. Paul. Legal representation for each of them has yet to be determined. According to the charges: An investigator with the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force notified the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in March of a Snapchat group called “BLICCS&STICCS3” that was suspected of being used to help traffic machine guns, other firearms and illicit drugs in the Twin Cities “and outlying areas.” The investigator shared screenshots and videos of several people selling, promoting and operating machinegun conversion devices. With the help of a confidential informant, one law enforcement officer gained access to the group and began
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