The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the theft of 30 semi-automatic handguns and other firearm parts from a Lakewood gun shop. ATF said it was joining with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves. ATF Special Agent Brian Bennett…

A former supervisory agent in the Seattle office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was sentenced today to one year in prison for lying about money meant for informants that went missing. James Contreras, 52, pleaded guilty in February to a single felony count of making a false statement in a plea…

James Contreras, a former supervisor in the Seattle office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, has pleaded guilty to a single felony count of making a false statement in a plea deal that will see 30 other counts dismissed stemming from an investigation into allegations that Contreras embezzled from a fund for confidential…

The Associated Press SPOKANE — Federal investigators on Monday were waiting to talk with a man who blew off his hand with a powerful firework while driving in Spokane over the weekend, a spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said. The agency has declined to release the man’s name. Agents were waiting…

The new special agent in charge of the Seattle Division of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is hoping to improve the agency’s efforts in helping law enforcement track the history of firearms recovered from crime scenes. Douglas R. Dawson says he has plans to establish a regional crime-gun center that will provide…

A former supervisor in the Seattle office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives pleaded not guilty this morning to charges of embezzling money from a fund for confidential informants and making false statements.

The one-time agent, James Contreras, 52, of Maple Valley, entered the plea through his attorney in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Contreras was indicted by a federal grand jury in Seattle last month on one count of embezzlement and 30 counts of making false statements. The indictment alleged he repeatedly took money from a cash account he supervised.

If convicted, Contreras could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison on the embezzlement count and five years for each false-statement count.

A three-month investigation into gang violence, and drug and firearms sales in South King County and South Seattle resulted in the arrest of 33 people and the seizure of 28 firearms, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The so-called “Hot Spot” initiative also resulted in the seizure of 14 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine…