Master Analyst Exposes Gun Traffickers in Manatee County

Ashley Wells, Manatee County Sheriff's Office

In a recent development, Ashley Wells, a Master Intelligence Analyst based in Florida, uncovered a gun trafficking attempt aimed at the Caribbean. According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Wells, responsible for scrutinizing data regarding multiple gun purchases from shops in Manatee County, stumbled upon a series of suspicious transactions that raised red flags.

Typically tasked with vetting inquiries related to pending felony cases, which could prohibit individuals from legally owning firearms, Wells noticed a recurring pattern over several months. Despite the absence of ongoing legal issues, she observed frequent purchases under the same name and address, indicating a potential illicit operation.

Wells promptly notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), prompting the initiation of a thorough investigation, continuing to provide assistance to ATF agents throughout the process.

Following the inquiries, the subjects involved in the transactions were interviewed and confessed to purchasing firearms with the intention of smuggling them into the Caribbean. They willingly surrendered their stockpile of unshipped firearms to ATF authorities.

​"Ashley could have easily moved on once she saw there were no active investigations on the subjects. Instead, her diligence identified a pattern of suspicious activity that led to the exposure of a gun trafficking scheme," says the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in their official post.

In recognition of her outstanding efforts, Ashley Wells has been honored as the Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Employee of the Month for February 2024.