Iowa felon who posed as ATF worker to steal guns sent to prison for over 8 years

Suspect told an acquaintance that he was working for the ATF, and he needed to seize the acquaintance’s firearms, then took seven firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the acquaintance.

CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa felon who fooled a friend into giving him guns by claiming to work for the ATF will spend over 8 years in prison wondering what went wrong.

Ken Nakato, age 36, from Coralville, Iowa, received the prison term at an April 11 sentencing after an October 20, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Information from a plea agreement and sentencing hearing showed that on May 17, 2023, Hiawatha police officers responded to a domestic disturbance involving Nakato (pictured at top). Officers began to assist Nakato with removing his belongings, including several firearms, from a residence, but a criminal history check showed Nakato had a felony conviction. Nakato falsely denied being a felon. Officers seized seven firearms, including a short-barreled rifle, from the residence and Nakato’s car.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) spoke with Nakato at his residence on May 19, 2023, and Nakato admitted that he was not allowed to possess firearms. That night, Nakato texted someone else that he was officially an employee of the ATF, which would be “a clear record.” On May 23, 2023, Nakato told an acquaintance that he was working for the ATF, and he needed to seize the acquaintance’s firearms. Nakato took seven firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the acquaintance. Law enforcement subsequently seized these seven firearms from Nakato on May 24 and May 25, 2023.

On June 7, 2023, Nakato convinced a family member to buy two firearms for him from a licensed firearms dealer in Coralville. He was in possession of one of those firearms on June 15, 2023, when he was pulled over by Iowa City police officers. Between May 17, 2023, and June 15, 2023, Nakato possessed at least twenty firearms.

Federal courthouse, Northern District of Iowa in Cedar Rapids

Nakato was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Nakato was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Nakato is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hiawatha Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, the Coralville Police Department, and the Iowa City Police Department.