Opinion ID: 171495
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The Early October Email

Text: The existence of the first missing email is based on a responsive email Ford sent on October 5, 2005. In this email, Ford stated the following: Just returned from out of town. Social sounds good. I'll call you and set something up over next couple of days. Not any good computer deals out there right now. I think rising costs are to blame. Just keep watching the big store ad's [sic] for a sale. Should be able to call in the next couple of days. R., Vol. I, Doc. 179 at 16. The district court concluded from this text that Ford was replying to an email previously sent by Heavilin asking if any more machine guns were available. The existence of the email is also reinforced by the transcript of an October 18, 2005 telephone conversation between Ford and Heavilin. In this conversation, Heavilin indicated he had earlier sent Ford an email message about purchasing a third machine gun. Heavilin told Ford, And that's kind of why I emailed and said give me a clue. R., Vol. I, Doc. 196 at 9. The district court also properly concluded the email supported Ford's entrapment defense because it established an additional contact initiated by a government informant. This additional contact, therefore, supports Ford's theory that the government's persistence is the reason he committed the crime.