The Sierra Valley Gun Club , located on private property 3 miles south of Highway 70 off of A-24 , in Beckworth , California , reported a theft of firearms on December 14 , 2008 . The Reno Police Department , and the Street Enforcement Team ( SET ) subsequently contacted ATF and advised that they received information regarding an individual who allegedly had stolen firearms for sale . On February 12 , 2009 , an ATF undercover agent purchased twelve firearms that were stolen from the Sierra Valley Gun Club from Michael Todd Irving , age 35 , a resident of Sparks . Irving was subsequently arrested on state weapons violations .