An Altamont man with a past domestic violence conviction has been charged with multiple firearms violations, according to federal prosecutors in Southern Illinois. James R. Kraus, II, 42, faces serious time for allegedly possessing an arsenal of weapons that he was federally banned from owning, including an automatic weapon and several ghost guns he is accused of making with a 3D printer.
In a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois, officials stated, "Individuals with domestic violence and other abusive convictions cannot lawfully possess firearms due to the increased safety risks to our communities, and offenders will be held accountable." Kraus' prohibited status stems from a domestic violence conviction, making his alleged possession and manufacturing of firearms a federal offense.
The charges against Kraus include one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun, two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, and one count of illegal importation of a firearm. The indictment also highlights the government's intent to seize Kraus’ computer, 3D printer, and other firearm manufacturing tools used in the creation of illicit weapons.
As per information from the indictment, the government is also pursuing forfeiture of nine commercially manufactured firearms, seven silencers, and thousands of rounds of ammunition connected to Kraus. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Trippi, emphasized the threat posed by ghost guns, which are difficult to trace due to their lack of serial numbers. "Manufacturing devices to convert firearms to automatic weapons is a tremendous threat to our communities," stated Bernard Hansen, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Kansas City Field Division.
The collaborative investigation into Kraus' activities was spearheaded by the ATF with support from the Illinois State Police (ISP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly highlighted the partnership, saying, "ISP is committed to ensuring those who are prohibited from possessing a firearm don't have guns illegally and we will continue to work with our federal partners to protect the public and combat gun trafficking."
If guilty, Kraus could find himself facing up to 15 years in prison and could be fined up to $250,000. It should be noted that an indictment is merely a formal charge, and Kraus is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
