A U.S. Army lieutenant colonel admitted in court Monday that he imported AK style firearms parts from foreign sources, including Russia, without the required licenses.
Frank Ross Talbert, who most recently worked with the Army’s Explosives Ordnance Disposal at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, faced a 21 count indictment in 2024 after federal investigators found firearms assembled from overseas parts.
Under a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to 17 counts, including smuggling and possessing an unregistered machine gun, along with multiple violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
From 2019 to 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol intercepted 16 of roughly 350 shipments believed to contain firearms components, according to the plea agreement.
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The intercepted packages revealed illegally imported pistol grips, hand guards, buttstocks, sights, muzzle devices, gas tubes and inert rifle grenades, among other parts.
Authorities said Talbert used variants of his name and his wife’s name, as well as different locations, to dodge detection by CBP.
The shipments continued while he was stationed at Fort Hamilton, New York, where he served as an improvised explosive device threat mitigation advisor to the United Nations.
Talbert’s operations persisted after his move to Fort Campbell and his residence in Clarksville, Tennessee.
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Following CBP seizures, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Talbert’s Clarksville home in 2023 and found five firearms made from illegally imported parts.
Investigators also discovered shipping boxes containing illegally imported equipment from various countries, including Russia, and a work station filled with “large amounts of shipping supplies indicative of being engaged in the business of dealing without a Federal Firearms License.”
Authorities learned Talbert maintained a “significant presence” on online forums where members could sell, purchase and discuss firearms.
“Defendant is a high-ranking career member of the military with a sophisticated knowledge of guns,” the plea agreement reads.
“His text messages and postings on gun websites indicate defendant understood what he was importing.”
According to the agreement, prosecutors will move to dismiss the remaining four charges against Talbert, which included firearms trafficking, transporting prohibited weapons without a license, dealing in firearms without a license and another charge of possessing an unregistered machine gun.
Talbert’s sentencing hearing is set for August 10.
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