Man Who Brought 'Arsenal' To South Beach Pleads Guilty

MIAMI, FL -- A South Dakota man who was arrested steps away from tourist-favorite Ocean Drive in South Beach last year with a swastika pocket knife and what police described as an "arsenal" of weapons in his pickup truck, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Wednesday to a federal weapons violation. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

Thirty-two-year-old David Goldammer pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm in connection with his Oct. 25 arrest by Miami Beach police. He also faces up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Goldammer is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez at 1:30 p.m. on June 4.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of Miami; Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle; Special Agent in Charge Ari C. Shapira, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Miami Field Office and Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel J. Oates.

Goldammer, who was believed to have been drinking, was found asleep in the parked vehicle along an alley at 14 Street and Ocean Drive around 1:37 a.m. Police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle blocking the alley. Ocean Drive is known for its vibrant outdoor cafes and nightclubs that stay open until 5 a.m.

"When they arrived they discovered a man asleep at the wheel, slouched to the right with the ignition running," said Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department at the time of the arrest. He said officers shined a light into the red pickup to get Goldammer's attention and discovered the cache of weapons.

"They quickly noticed two open beer bottles as well as two upholstered and loaded handguns on the center console," he said. "The driver was immediately ordered out of the vehicle, almost falling as he exited."

Miami Beach police said they discovered another loaded handgun in Goldammer's waistband and later found two more loaded handguns, a semi-automatic rifle, a large amount of ammunition, a bullet-resistant vest and the pocketknife with a swastika on it.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Gellis from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Christine Hernandez.