Boogaloo Movement Supporter Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms

DETROIT – A supporter of the “Boogaloo” movement pleaded guilty today to being a drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition, and for making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Timothy Allen Teagan, 23, of Plymouth, Michigan, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Sean F. Cox.

According to court records, Teagan is a supporter of the anti-government Boogaloo movement.  Members of the Boogaloo movement advocate for the violent overthrow of the government.  They believe that a civil war or uprising against the government is coming to the United States, and they refer to that conflict as the “Boogaloo.”  On July 17, 2022, Teagan completed a Firearms Transaction Record, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473, in connection with the acquisition of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Westland, Michigan. Teagan applied for the purchase of a Glock 34, 9 millimeter pistol.  On the ATF Form 4473, Teagan checked “no” to the question concerning drug use.  At the time Teagan prepared the ATF Form 4473 and submitted it, he was a frequent and habitual user of marijuana and was also addicted to the drug. Teagan lied on the ATF Form 4473 because he knew that he would be legally prohibited from purchasing and possessing a firearm if he answered truthfully and admitted that he was addicted to marijuana, or a habitual user of marijuana.  Teagan subsequently purchased the Glock 9 mm pistol on July 20, 2022.  

In addition, in October 2022, Teagan possessed a Diamondback Arms, Inc. DB-15 .556 caliber semi-automatic rifle and ammunition. Teagan stored the rifle and some of the ammunition in his bedroom at his father’s home located in Plymouth, Michigan.  Teagan purchased the rifle in December 2019 from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Canton, Michigan. At the time of the December 2019 purchase, Teagan knew that he was a frequent and habitual user of marijuana and therefore not permitted to possess the firearm.

On October 27, 2022, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Teagan’s father’s residence in Plymouth.  During the search, agents recovered the DB-15 rifle, Level IV body armor, gas masks, dozens of rounds of rifle and pistol ammunition, an ACOG rifle sight, firearm magazines, and Boogaloo movement flags and patches.  The Glock 9 mm pistol was recovered from a nearby vehicle.   

“Individuals who illegally possess firearms and who lie to purchase them present a danger to our community,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison.  “We will aggressively prosecute those who would violate and seek to circumvent federal firearms laws.”  

“Working with our law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and prosecute individuals who lie about their habitual drug use in order to purchase a firearm helps keep our communities safe,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “Investigations such as this show the FBI in Michigan is working diligently and tirelessly to protect the American people and uphold the United States Constitution.”

Teagan faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on the firearms possession charge, and a maximum of ten years in prison on the false statement charge.  A sentencing hearing is set for August 16, 2023.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.