Stephen J. Barborini, ATF Special Agent – Retired
Mr. Barborini retired in 2011, as a Resident Agent in Charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after 24 years of service.
He is an elite expert in the field of firearms, and investigations concerning them. He is highly regarded as a subject matter expert in the fields of: international and domestic firearms trafficking investigations, firearm cyber crime investigations, and the procedures, rules and laws as they pertain to the import, manufacture and sale of firearms. He has investigated and managed many multi-jurisdictional complex cases, to include: firearms trafficking and long term undercover operations. He created and supervised a multi-agency task force, investigated a multi-defendant cartel-run arms smuggling case, and investigated specific terrorism groups, all with successful prosecutions. He is one of only two ATF Agents to have worked undercover on an arms smuggling investigation in Europe.
During his law enforcement career, he earned numerous awards from ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Agent of The Year in 2003, for the investigation of terrorists attempting to purchase Stinger missiles.
Prior to his ATF career, he served as a Police Officer and as a Sheriff’s Deputy in Florida, and then as a Deputy US Marshal. As a Police Officer, he served as a Patrol Sergeant and Detective.
He continues to serve as a Detective today, assigned to the Violent Crimes Division of a Sheriff’s Department in Florida. Mr. Barborini continues to testify as an expert in Federal and State court, on the topics of firearms, firearm trafficking and ammunition.
Mr. Barborini holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University. He has toured and done research at the following firearm and ammunition manufacturers and firearm reference collections/museums in the U.S. and Europe:
US: Colt, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Marlin, Mossberg, Savage, Kel-Tec, European American Armory, Taurus, Knight’s Armament Corporation, Remington, Winchester, Fiocchi, Starline Brass, Sierra Bullets, Cody Firearms Museum, NRA Firearms Collection, West Point Military Academy Firearm Museum, U.S. Navy UDT/SEAL Museum, Harpers Ferry, Knights Armament (Institute of Military Technology) firearm museum.
Overseas: Glock, Sig Sauer, Heckler & Koch, Walther, Fabrique Nationale (FN), FEG, BWB (Germany), and the Proof Houses in Ulm and Kiel, Germany and in Liege, Belgium.

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