Suspected arms dealer arrested in Santa Rosa

A convicted felon faces more than two dozen new charges after police allege he ran a firearms manufacturing and trafficking operation.

May 30, 2024, 10:52 a.m. PDT

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A convicted felon and suspected gun dealer was arrested this week by police and federal authorities in Santa Rosa.

According to the Santa Rosa Police Department, detectives with the Property Crime Investigation Team began an investigation into the suspected trafficker after U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a part used to make firearms shipped from China in April.

Subscribe

Detectives worked with Homeland Security Investigations and a U.S. Postal Inspector to execute a search warrant Tuesday at a home on El Capitan Way. Police said the search revealed “extensive evidence” of firearms manufacturing and trafficking, including 3D printers, drill presses and several homemade weapons.

Detectives recovered 19 firearms, including two classified as short-barreled assault weapons, as well as high-capacity magazines, ammunition, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to investigators.

Police identified the suspect as Bon Kim, 44, of Santa Rosa, who is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction. He was booked into a Sonoma County jail on suspicion of more than two dozen counts related to weapons possession and manufacturing and drug possession.