FARGO, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – On April 11, 2024, Patrick Opdahl, 24, from Fargo, North Dakota, was found guilty of possessing a machinegun and an unregistered silencer after a three-day trial before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter Welte. Opdahl’s sentencing is pending.
The charges stem from a February 1, 2023 incident at Opdahl’s residence, where he engaged in an argument with his parents and discharged a firearm into the ceiling. Following a standoff with law enforcement, Opdahl surrendered peacefully. Subsequent investigations revealed Opdahl’s possession of ghost guns, including the illegal firearms.
“Ghost guns,” privately made firearms, are particularly concerning due to their untraceable nature. In 2022, the Department of Justice recovered thousands of ghost guns domestically and internationally. U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider emphasized the threat these illegal firearms pose to public safety.
ATF St. Paul Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge, Travis Riddle, underscored the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in prosecuting such cases. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Fargo Police Department and ATF, with prosecution handled by AUSA Richard Lee and Trial Attorney Katherine Raut.