CINCINNATI — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is asking for the public’s help as officials try to locate a key player in a firearm trafficking conspiracy operating in Cincinnati.
ATF is offering a $2,500 reward for information on the whereabouts of Roderico Allen.
Anyone who has seen Allen is asked to call police. ATF agents said he is armed and dangerous.
"Allen is our primary concern,” said ATF Resident in Charge Frank Occhipinti. “Once we bring him in, I think we'll be able to breathe a little easier."
ATF is investigating an organized group that's operating out of Cincinnati. Officials say the group is stealing credit card information and making fraudulent purchases through online gun vendors. Then, they pick the guns up from stores here locally.
According to ATF agents, this has been going on for at least a year and a half.
"It's taken that amount of time to gather all that intelligence, solid information, to perfect a case on these individuals," Occhipinti said. "Some of these were hard, some of these individuals were hard to identify and locate."
Recently, they've made some breakthroughs in the investigation.
"Roughly three weeks ago, 11 of these individuals were indicted here in this district in the southern district of Ohio. We were successful in arresting about nine of them," he said.
Roderico Allen and Chad Bauer got away.
That’s when ATF put out a message to the public, asking for help.
"Thanks to you and media's coverage of Mr. Bauer's reward, he's turned himself in," Occhipinti said.
Bauer was taken into custody Tuesday morning. The full focus has since shifted toward finding Allen.
"We are still looking for him. He's one of the main players in this whole group,” Occhipinti said. "Based on his actions, based on his criminal history, we consider him to be very dangerous, just based on what we know about his personality and what he said. So, we just want to take him into custody as safely as possible."
ATF agents said it was the first time they'd seen an organized group in this fashion.
"I don't think he's going to give himself up," Occhipinti said. "We're hoping that the public sees this. We're hoping that the public does the right thing. Turn him in."
In addition to keeping guns out of the wrong hands, Occhipinti said this case is about justice for the victims of identity theft.
"Some of these people's lives are turned upside down," he said. "Some of these individuals purchase cars. They purchased high dollar items, using identities of elderly or unsuspecting individuals, not only here in Ohio, but throughout the country."
ATF agents said a local gun store was a huge help with the investigation and locating these individuals. WCPO spoke with the manager of that store, however, they did not want to go on camera out of concern for their safety.
Anyone with information on Allen can contact the ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS via email at ATFTips@atf.gov, or a tip can be submitted anonymously using the ReportIt app, which is available in app stores and to download online.
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