Adam Bunger

A Bowling Green man who admitted concealing firearms in electronic items and shipping them overseas was sentenced Monday to 24 months in federal prison, concluding what people involved called a “strange case.”

Adam Joseph Bunger, 34, received a shorter sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley than federal sentencing guidelines recommended.

Bunger pleaded guilty this year to illegally exporting firearms, dealing firearms without a license, shipping firearms in foreign commerce without notifying the carrier that the package contained a firearm and shipping a firearm with an obliterated serial number in foreign commerce.

At his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green, Bunger expressed remorse for his actions, called his behavior “idiotic and arrogant” and thanked his family for supporting him.

“I have made a grave mistake, and it will follow me for the rest of my life,” Bunger said. “I have affected everyone I know … because of my actions, I have disappointed my friends and have hurt the ones here with me in this very room.”

An investigation by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that Bunger concealed disassembled components of handguns within hollowed-out electronic items such as video game systems, a DVD player and a metal computer switching power supply box.

Bunger attempted to ship the packages to customers in Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom, nations with stricter laws than the U.S. concerning firearms possession.

Court documents show that the recipient of the package sent to Australia told authorities there last year that he bought the weapon from a site called Black Market Reloaded, which can be accessed only by downloading software that protects a computer user’s identity.

Authorities said customers paid in Bitcoin, a form of online currency not subject to bank fees or regulation.

“Through some of the posts, (Bunger) branded himself as the person who could actually get a firearm shipped to other countries,” ATF Special Agent David Hayes testified Monday. “He would bill himself as the person who could basically guarantee the firearm could get through.”

The ATF connected Bunger to three packages shipped from Bowling Green on June 13, 2013, and three other packages that were intercepted by postal officials here on July 18, 2013, and Aug. 9, 2013.

Court records show Bunger used the alias “John Smith” for the shipment of the three packages in June 2013.

Hayes said during his investigation he learned the package destined for Sweden was to have gone to someone with a history of mental problems and substance abuse issues.

Bunger said he engaged in the illegal activity to help financially support a girlfriend who was attending graduate school.

“I did it for love; we all do stupid things for love,” Bunger said. “I wanted her to succeed without worrying about bills. She later ended the relationship, and I was left with nothing but the crimes I committed.”

During his remarks, Bunger asked for mercy from McKinley, as did his mother, grandmother and a family friend who once babysat him.

Patrick Bouldin, Bunger’s court-appointed attorney, characterized this as a “very strange case” and argued for a lower sentence than the 30 months recommended by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

“To this day, I still don’t think I understand how it worked,” Bouldin said of the complexity of the criminal activity. “I think (Bunger) knew what he was doing was wrong, but I don’t think he truly appreciated it.”

Federal sentencing guidelines, which take into account the conduct associated with the defendant’s criminal offenses and the defendant’s criminal history, called for a punishment of 46 to 57 months in prison.

Federal prosecutors recommended a 30-month sentence based on Bunger’s cooperation with authorities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Dyke insisted that Bunger be incarcerated for his actions, noting he defaced serial numbers on the weapons in an effort to avoid them being traced back to him.

“Mr. Bunger took great pains to conceal all the activities he was carrying on,” Dyke said. “I thought I was going to hear a more compelling reason why he engaged in this conduct. If you’re in love, get a job, get two jobs, get three jobs … this case calls for a sentence that will deter other bright people who for whatever reason feel the need to make easy money doing the same thing.”

In pronouncing his sentence, McKinley noted that Bunger was not the kind of criminal he expected to encounter when he first heard about the case and remarked on the support of his friends and family, who filled the courtroom.

The judge also said he believed Bunger was truly remorseful.

“You’ve begged for mercy, but mercy has its limits,” McKinley said. “It’s going to be two years out of your life, but it’s not going to be the end of your life. If you are going to make your family proud when you get out, you will get a chance to do that.”

— Follow courts reporter Justin Story on Twitter at twitter.com/jstorydailynews or visit bgdailynews.com.