
A Queens Village man is facing serious time after his arrest for manufacturing a collection of "ghost guns" in his home. This past Wednesday, authorities charged Jonathan Diaz with the creation of four fully assembled weapons, ammunition, and additional gun parts. In the raid conducted at Diaz's residence, police also confiscated a 3D printer purportedly used to craft these untraceable firearms, as reported by ABC7NY.
Diaz, who could be looking at up to 15 years behind bars if convicted, claimed to police that his gun-making operation was nothing more than a pastime. "It’s just a hobby, 3D printing,” Diaz said as per the criminal complaint. His home, shared with his wife, mother, and mother-in-law, who were present during the 5 a.m raid but not charged, might have been a production site for these weapons, but Diaz insisted that he had never sold any, as noted in a report by NY Daily News.
The discovery included four Glock-style guns, one of which was loaded with 9mm bullets. Additionally, authorities uncovered eight lower frames essential for the gun's assembly, and roughly 20 pounds of PLA filament, the plastic material used to print these firearms. The NYPD, alongside Homeland Security Investigations New York and the Queens District Attorney's Office, had been trailing Diaz's purchases for months, which led them to believe he was manufacturing homemade weapons.
Queens DA Melinda Katz reasserted her office’s dedication following the arrest, asserting that they are "committed to finding and removing illegal homemade weapons from our communities," as detailed by NY Daily News. The legal proceedings for Diaz are underway, with bail set at a steep $150,000, according to what his lawyer disclosed, with no further comment.