Las Vegas ATF office disputes researchers’ data

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1999 | 10:26 a.m.

A study recently released by a data-gathering research organization gives the wrong impression about the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Las Vegas officials say.

According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which is funded in part by Syracuse University, the number of cases referred to federal prosecutors by the ATF fell 44 percent between 1992 and 1998 from 9,885 to 5,510. The report also says the number of weapons cases has dropped off.

However, B.J. Zapor, resident agent in charge of the Las Vegas ATF office, said that while the number of cases may have fallen nationally, the number of defendants has risen.

On the local level, Zapor said his office is highly productive.

Between Oct. 1, 1997, and Oct. 1, 1998, about 40 cases were filed with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas, Zapor said. However, more than 60 cases have been filed in the 11 months since.

Moreover, the ATF is working closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Clark County district attorney's office and Las Vegas Metro Police in specifically targeting felons caught with firearms, Zapor said. More than 75 such cases have been prosecuted over the last several months.

In fact, Zapor said additional agents have been temporarily assigned to work in Las Vegas on the project.

Howard Zlotnick, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, said the agency is "vigorously" pursuing firearms cases.

"These TRAC numbers don't give the full picture," Zlotnick said. "They don't take into account those cases that are referred to other districts and they don't show those cases that end up being prosecuted on the state level."

While the study is correct in that the number of ATF agents has fallen in recent years because of retirements, Zapor said the numbers are increasing.

The Las Vegas office gained additional agents in August.