U.S. Navy Veteran · Pardoned

Patrick "Tate" Adamiak

Wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for legally owned, non-functional military memorabilia. After 1,414 days behind bars, he was granted a full and unconditional presidential pardon.

He is home.

Read the Pardon Book Tate to Speak

Follow the movement: Twitter/X Facebook

Patrick 'Tate' Adamiak, in the green shirt, standing with his family in front of an American flag

September 4, 2026

Tate walked out with 16 years still on his sentence.

President Donald J. Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon covering every offense in United States v. Adamiak. The document, the coverage, and everything that has happened since — including his homecoming and his return to the public stage — are collected on one page.

See the Pardon & What's Next Support Tate

Tate's Story

A Veteran. A Collector. A 20-Year Sentence.

Tate is a U.S. Navy veteran who legally collected deactivated WWII relics — items previously approved for import by the ATF. But in 2022, he became the target of an ATF sting operation and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for owning non-functional, historical artifacts.

His conviction rested on a retroactive and unlawful reinterpretation of gun laws — a rule federal courts struck down. Four years later, a presidential pardon finally undid it.

Meet Tate

By the Numbers

The Case Against Tate Fell Apart Under Scrutiny

1,414 Days Tate spent behind bars before the pardon

0 Functional weapons ever found in Tate's possession

$75 Cost of the toy STEN gun the ATF classified as a machinegun

5 Parts the ATF added from their own weapons to "prove" Tate's RPG worked

1 of 4 Legal requirements met by the part ATF called a "machinegun receiver"

20+ Felony convictions held by the ATF informant who triggered the investigation

1,012 Alleged illegal weapons the prosecution initially sought penalties for

60+ Investigative stories that kept the case from being buried

What the Record Shows

Facts the Government Never Disputed

ATF officer Bodell admitted under oath that Tate's Uzi carbines were "closed-bolt semi-automatic firearms" — confirming they were legal. They were counted toward his sentence anyway.

The ATF's own Firearm Technology Branch had previously approved the inert RPG kit for civilian sales and included a letter stating the launcher was not a destructive device.

When retired ATF agent O'Kelly was set to testify that the items weren't regulated, the prosecution dropped the original charges and reindicted Tate on different counts. The court then blocked O'Kelly's testimony.

Tate purchased the inert RPGs in California and flew them home on commercial airlines, passing TSA inspection. They sat openly displayed in his home for nearly a decade.

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals found that Tate's sentence violated the Double Jeopardy Clause — the same crime was counted under two different statutes to produce two consecutive 10-year terms.

Expert witness Len Savage, who has testified in 29 federal cases, reviewed the charges and concluded they were "not legit" and "made up by the ATF."

Read All the Facts

Understand What Happened

The pardon ended Tate's sentence. It didn't erase the record of how he got there. Explore the evidence for yourself.

The Pardon

A Full and Unconditional Pardon

The signed Executive Grant of Clemency, the reaction from across the movement, and what Tate is doing now that he's free — including his push for accountability at the ATF.

The Case

An ATF Sting on a Navy Sailor

At 27, Tate was indicted for allegedly dealing machine guns and possessing rocket launchers. The truth? Every item was a non-functional relic or replica that had been legal for decades.

ATF Allegations

A Cut-Up Barrel Shroud Called a "Machine Gun"

The ATF classified a WWII-era part that meets only 1 of 4 legal requirements as a machinegun receiver — and added their own parts to an inert RPG to "prove" it worked.

Statement of Facts

8 Facts That Should Have Set Tate Free

Not a single seized item was functional. A retired ATF agent confirmed none qualify as firearms. The same items are still being sold legally today.

Updates

What Tate Is Doing Now

Reinstatement, recovering seized property, and the continuing push for accountability at the ATF and DOJ.

Timeline

From Arrest to Pardon

Trace how Tate went from a lawful collector to a federal prisoner in under 18 months — and how it took four more years and a presidential pardon to undo.