News

FBI: Kidnapping investigation leads to discovery of illegal gun trade in Brockton

BOSTON — After a kidnapping, ransom demands and an offer to snitch on an accomplice, the FBI says they’ve tracked illegal weapons from Connecticut to two men in Brockton.

FBI affidavits obtained by FOX25 outline how the investigation of a kidnapping in October led police to recover a weapon allegedly stolen from the victim in the kidnapping.

According to agents, Mukunda Znajmiecka was abducted from his car while his children slept in the backseat on October 8, 2016 by several masked suspects.

An investigation led to the arrest of Sedrick Oliveira for the kidnapping, the affidavit states. During his arrest, FBI agents said they found a gun he allegedly threw out the window, which they say he had stolen from Znajmiecka during the kidnapping.

According to the FBI, the kidnappers also stole 30 pounds of marijuana and $20,000 from Znajmiecka’s car and called his girlfriend to demand a ransom. Znajmiecka was later found when the kidnappers abandoned their vehicle and his children were found safe -- still asleep in the car.

When Znajmiecka later contacted an FBI agent allegedly offering information on an accomplice in exchange for help on an unrelated charge, agents say he gave them information on an unnamed accomplice.

The accomplice, who agents haven’t named in the affidavit, in turn told FBI agents Znajmiecka had sold guns for him. According to the FBI, the accomplice had owned and registered at least 39 guns in Connecticut, but after moving to Massachusetts had not registered any of them.

Police say one of them was the gun recovered during Oliviera’s arrest, which Znajmiecka had been in possession of.

According to the affidavit, the accomplice providing information to the FBI then recorded a phone call with Znajmiecka to ask about the guns he had allegedly given him.

Police say Znajmiecka has a “lengthy” criminal record, which includes a prior arrest for possession with intent to distribute.

FBI agents say a large search in Brockton on Friday was related to this investigation.