San Francisco Field Division
Photo used under Creative Commons from Wikimedia user Don Sleeter
Welcome to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) San Francisco Field Division. Representing one of the twenty-five ATF Field Divisions in the United States, our geographic area of responsibility encompasses Northern California, from the Oregon border to Bakersfield, and the State of Nevada. Our dedicated workforce is comprised of special agents, investigators, forensic auditors, technicians, support staff and contract workers.
ATF is a Federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice that is committed to reducing violent crime in our communities. Our close relationships with our State and local law partners include collaborative efforts with police, sheriff and fire investigators, homicide investigators and local and regional bomb squads. These partnerships have created a force multiplier that has proven to be highly successful in reducing violent crime. We protect our neighborhoods from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.
Explosives and arson enforcement is an integral part of ATF’s overall violent crime reduction strategy. ATF special agents, certified explosives specialists, explosives enforcement officers, certified fire investigators, and forensic specialists are prepared to respond to any explosive or fire scene and routinely work with the local first responders to process the scene, recover, examine and analyze evidence, conduct follow up investigation, and provide expert testimony in court.
ATF is charged with the duty of regulating the firearms and explosives industries. We are committed to the goal of ensuring all firearms and explosives are stored, handled, and sold in a safe manner according to law.
One of ATF’s four forensic science laboratories and one of ATF’s three regional Explosives Technology Branch offices are located within the geographic area of the San Francisco Field Division. ATF’s forensic laboratories were the first Federal laboratories to achieve accreditation in 1984 by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). Achieving ASCLD/LAB (ISO) accreditation is a rigorous process for forensic laboratories, requiring extensive review of laboratory examination and documentation procedures used in the examination of evidence.
The men and women of ATF are proud to serve you and our goal of reducing violent crime and protecting our Nation is ever present. If you have a question or have information that may assist us in our mission, please contact us at (925) 557-2800.
Stephen C. Herkins
Division Management Team
- Stephen C. Herkins
- Special Agent In Charge (SAC)
- John P. Lee
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Jeffrey E. Vind
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Joel B. Thorpe
- Director of Industry Operations (DIO)
- Helen A. Dunkel
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
Division Contact Information
Receive San Francisco Press Release Updates
Licensed Gun Dealer Charged With Making Unlawful Sales of Firearms, Silencers, and a Machine Gun
September 3, 2010
United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Stephen C. Herkins announced that Robert John Ronning, 42, of Salida, owner of Ronning Arms Inc. in Modesto, a federal firearms licensee, was arrested today on charges of illegal gun sales, including the unlawful transfers of unregistered silencers and a machine gun. More »
Member of Oakland-Based Armed Robbery Crew Sentenced to More Than Thirteen Years in Prison
August 24, 2010
A member of an Oakland-based armed robbery crew was sentenced today to a total of 159 months in prison by United States District Judge Claudia Wilken, for his participation in a series of armed robberies that targeted businesses throughout the Bay Area, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. According to court documents, San Kwen Saephan, 29, of Oakland, was a member of an armed robbery crew that committed several violent armed robberies between December 2007 and January 2008. More »
15 Charged With Evasion of Tens of Millions of Dollars in State Tobacco Products Excise Tax
August 9, 2010
United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Stephen C. Herkins, and California Board of Equalization Vice Chairman Jerome E. Horton, announced today that eight federal indictments had been unsealed charging 15 persons and three businesses with federal offenses relating to schemes to evade California excise taxes on non-cigarette tobacco products. More »
11 Indicted in Connection With Multi-Agency Marijuana Eradication Effort
August 6, 2010
United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that 11 criminal defendants were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury sitting in Fresno in connection with Operation Trident, an intensive multi-agency marijuana eradication effort in Madera, Fresno, and Tulare Counties that commenced in 2009, and is coordinated by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. More »
Last Gun Runner Sentenced in Illegal Trafficking Scheme
August 6, 2010
The eighth member of an illegal gun trafficking ring that trafficked over 65 firearms from Atlanta, Ga., to the San Francisco Bay Area has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison announced Special Agent in Charge Stephen C. Herkins with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The group bought, shipped then resold the guns from April through June of 2009. Several of these guns were recovered from crime scenes in San Francisco and Oakland. More »
Leader of Oakland-Based Armed Robbery Crew Sentenced to More Than 22 Years in Prison
August 4, 2010
Kao Saeturn was sentenced today by United States District Judge Claudia Wilken to 272 months in prison for leading a robbery crew that committed a series of armed robberies targeting small businesses and their customers throughout the Bay Area, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced. More »
Mexican Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison
July 1, 2010
Cornelio Mata Espinoza was sentenced yesterday to 250 months in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $39,000 to the United States for his role in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced. More »
Second Superseding Indictment Handed Down in Plot to Overthrow the Government of Laos
June 24, 2010
United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that a federal grand jury in Sacramento issued a five-count second superseding indictment in United States v. Harrison Jack, et al., the pending prosecution related to the alleged 2006–2007 plot by various individuals to overthrow the government of Laos. More »
ATF Offers a Reward of $5,000.00 for Information Regarding Explosives Theft
June 17, 2010
Special Agent in Charge Stephen C. Herkins of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), San Francisco Field Division and Sheriff Richard Riggins of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office announced today that ATF will offer a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the theft of explosives that occurred at a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Site, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Mount Shasta, Calif., sometime between the dates of April 12 – April 21, 2010. More »
23 Nuestra Familia Members & Associates Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges
June 8, 2010
United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that state, local, and federal agents arrested 23 members and associates of the Nuestra Familia organization on drug trafficking and related charges and served more than 20 federal search warrants. An indictment was unsealed today charging 20 individuals with one-count of drug distribution conspiracy. More »
Salinas Man Found Guilty of Gun, Drug Charges After 2 Week Trial
June 7, 2010
A federal jury convicted a Salinas, Calif., drug dealer of six drug trafficking offenses and one firearm count, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced. The guilty verdict on Friday followed a two-week jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge James Ware in San Jose. More »
Bay Area Woman Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison For Distributing Heroin and Methamphetamine
February 5, 2010
On February 3, 2010, Josefina Rodriguez was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to forfeit over $390,000 to the United States for her role in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced. More »