Twin Cities Men Illegally Sold Machineguns On Snapchat: Feds

MINNEAPOLIS — Three Twin Cities men were arrested and charged in a social media-based machinegun distribution ring, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced Friday.

Rafael Carter Wesley, 19, Kyrees Darious Johnson, 23, and Avont Akira Drayton, 22, each face one count of unlawful possession of machine guns.

In March 2023, authorities began investigating a Snapchat group — called "BLICCS&STICCS3" — that they suspected of trafficking machineguns, firearms, and drugs in the Twin Cities metro area.

Screenshots and videos showed people in the group selling devices that convert pistols and rifles into a fully automatic machinegun, according to authorities.

Guns with machinegun conversion devices (MCD) are classified as machineguns and are regulated under the National Firearms Act.

On March 20, an undercover officer shared a picture of a prop firearm in the BLICCS&STICCS3 group. A user in group — later identified as Wesley — asked if the undercover officer wanted to trade the firearm for a Glock switch, according to authorities. A Glock switch turns a handgun into a machine gun.

The conversation continued and on March 26, the undercover officer agreed to purchase three switches for $900 and indicated he would pay an extra $100 if Wesley drove up to St. Cloud to deliver the switches, investigators said.

On March 27, Wesley met the undercover officer in St. Cloud and sold him three switches for $1,000, according to authorities.

By June, undercover officers had conducted approximately six controlled buys with multiple members of the BLICCS&STICCS3 group in including Drayton and Johnson, investigators said.

The sales took place in Eagan, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, according to authorities.

Johnson is banned by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time because he has prior felony convictions, investigators said. Wesley and Drayton are also subject to court-imposed restrictions that prohibit them from possessing firearms, according to authorities.

All three made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court last week.