Self-described member of Boogaloo Bois from St. Cloud charged with illegal possession of machine gun

A self-proclaimed "Boogaloo Boi" from St. Cloud has been charged with illegal possession of a machine gun, according to acting Minnesota U.S Attorney W. Anders Folk.

Michael Paul Dahlager, 27, was charged on Wednesday with illegal possession of a machine gun. Dahlager was taken into custody early Wednesday morning.

According to the court, Dahlager is to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing, which is scheduled for Friday.

According to the allegations in the criminal complaint, in November 2020, the FBI initiated an investigation into Dahlager, a self-proclaimed member of the "Boogaloo Bois," a loosely connected group of individuals who espouse violent anti-government sentiments.

The term "Boogaloo" itself references an impending second civil war in the United States and is associated with violent uprisings against the government.

In November 2020, the FBI learned through a confidential source that Dahlager was discussing his willingness to kill members of law enforcement. The FBI also learned that Dahlager was in possession of a 3D-printed "drop-in auto sear" and a homemade firearm suppressor. An "auto sear" is a part designed and intended for use in converting a semi-automatic weapon to shoot automatically by a single pull of the trigger and is a machine gun under federal law.

According to court records, on Nov. 21, while meeting with the source and others at his residence, Dahlager showed the source several tactical items, including body armor, an AR-15-style assault rifle with a folding stock and an item Dahlager claimed was a suppressor.

The source observed loaded magazines for an assault rifle in Dahlager’s residence. Dahlager also showed the source two auto sears, which Dahlager said a friend had created using a 3D printer. Dahlager told the source that his residence has port-holes to make a stand if law enforcement confronts him.

Dahlager had also traveled from St. Cloud to the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul to scout security in the area, including law enforcement numbers and which streets were blocked off.

According to the allegations in the criminal complaint, on Jan. 10, the source approached Dahlager about obtaining an auto sear. Dahlager told the source he had several auto sears and was willing to provide one to the source. Dahlager told the source that he bought a cover for his suppressor to make the device appear to be a heat shield because Dahlager knew the suppressor was not legal.

Dahlager also showed the source a video depicting him shooting what appeared to be the same rifle equipped with the same suppressor the source had seen on November 21, 2020. On Feb. 3, Dahlager gave two auto sears to the source during a meeting at his residence and demonstrated how the devices should be inserted into a firearm.