Black market gun runner sentenced to federal prison

A Canadian national was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and fined $10,000 for using fake names to buy firearms in several Montana cities to take back to Canada to sell, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Haptei John Kozak, 27, of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, pleaded guilty in May to four counts of false statements during firearms transactions.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also imposed three years of supervised release and ordered the forfeiture of 12 firearms.

“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,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

The government alleged in court documents that an investigation by the ATF determined that Kozak, aka Tyler John Cossack, had purchased 12 pistols, mostly 9mm pistols, in four multiple-sale purchases from Sept. 9, 2023 through Oct. 16, 2023 in Montana.

"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 US Customs and Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the US Attorney’s Office District of Montana for their partnership in this investigation and mutual pursuit of justice.”

"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."

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’s 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 indicted that Kozak was purchasing the firearms in the United States and then transporting them back to Canada to sell.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted the investigation.