The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives and Cults (ATFEC) is a powerful government law enforcement agency that has taken swift action against cults after the Sudden Departure. Prior to the government's response to that event it was known as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), but its mandate was expanded to include cults at some time after October 14th, 2011.
Appearances[]
Holy Wayne[]
The initial appearances are centered around efforts to take Wayne Gilchrest into custody for statutory rape.
Nevada Ranch[]
In Season 1's Penguin One, Us Zero, ATFEC determines that Gilchrest, as well as his followers and acolytes, are a threat to national security upon discovering that members of the United States Senate are meeting with him in secret and paying for his purported healing abilities. During a raid of the Nevada compound Gilchrest was operating from, many of his followers are shot and some killed, without warning or cause. During the raid, Tommy Garvey kills an ATFEC agent to prevent Christine from being harmed or taken into custody.
New York Diner[]
Later, in the Season 1 episode The Prodigal Son Returns, Kevin Garvey encounters Gilchrest (who is mortally wounded following a shootout with and narrow escape from another attempt by ATFEC agents to apprehend him, during which he is knifed in the abdomen) in the men's bathroom of a diner he and Matt Jamison have stopped to eat at on their drive back to Mapleton from Cairo. Moments after Gilchrest succumbs to his injuries, ATFEC agents burst into the bathroom in heavy pursuit and detain Garvey to question him about his interactions with Wayne prior to their arrival.