DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — A federal trial in the case of a western Iowa police chief charged in a federal weapons investigation, will start today (Monday), in Des Moines. Adair Police Chief Brad Wendt is accused of lying to federal agents so he could obtain and sell machine guns for personal profit. In court records, Wendt argues some evidence was “obtained by unconstitutional search warrants.”

Wendt was placed on administrative leave shortly after an FBI search warrant was executed at his gun store in Denison and the Adair Police Department in August 2022. He was reinstated that October after a city council vote. Two months later, Wendt was indicted on 19 federal charges after being accused of exploiting his position as police chief to buy or attempt to buy machine guns.

If convicted, Wendt could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison.