The weapons were slated for transportation back to Canada
MISSOULA — A Canadian national was sentenced Oct. 8 to 18 months in prison and fined $10,000 for using fake names to buy firearms in several Montana cities to resell in Canada.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The defendant, Haptei John Kozak, 27, of Kelowna, British Columbia, pleaded guilty in May to four counts of false statements during firearms transactions. The court also imposed three years of supervised release and ordered the forfeiture of 12 firearms along with the prison sentence.
The government alleged in court documents that an investigation by the ATF determined that Kozak, also known as Tyler John Cossack, had purchased 12 pistols, mostly 9-millimeters, in four multiple-sale purchases from Sept. 9, 2023, through Oct. 16, 2023, in Montana. Kozak is a Canadian citizen with a Canadian passport. The investigation found that Kozak used the name Tyler John Cossack to purchase the firearms and used a falsified Montana driver’s license with a false date of birth, a false Missoula address and a false driver’s license number. Kozak provided false information to buy guns in Kalispell, Butte, Helena and Missoula, purchasing 12 firearms in 45 days. Kozak was arrested in March 2024 and had firearms that he recently purchased in his pickup truck. A review of his text messages and other evidence indicated Kozak was purchasing the firearms in the United States and then transporting them back to Canada to sell.
“Today, justice has been served. The courts have delivered a firm and unwavering message to those who seek to profit from violence and chaos,” said HSI acting Special Agent in Charge Tim Lenzen. “Let this be a clear warning: We will not tolerate those who fuel crime through the black market. We will find you, you will be prosecuted, and justice will prevail.”
“Black market firearms smugglers like Kozak contribute to the epidemic of gun violence nationally and internationally because these weapons often end up in the hands of criminals. As this case shows, we will work aggressively with our national and international law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who attempt to traffic firearms across our border,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Jesse A. Laslovich.
“Gun crime has no boundaries, making our efforts to uncover and dismantle illegal firearms trafficking channels crucial," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. "Traffickers who move firearms from lawful commerce into the hands of violent offenders are directly contributing to the cycle of violence at our borders and beyond. We are grateful for the hard work from our partners at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana, for their partnership in this investigation and mutual pursuit of justice.”
The U.S. attorney’s office prosecuted the case; U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The ATF, HSI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the trafficking of illegal firearms is encouraged to call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.
Learn more about HSI’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSIDenver.