Earlier today, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced the unsealing of a nine-count superseding indictment against four men linked to a firearms trafficking conspiracy involving 3D-printed "ghost guns" and machine gun conversion devices. According to the office's statement, the defendants—three from Staten Island, New York, and one from Florida—conspired to manufacture and sell untraceable firearms, including at least 10 devices capable of converting semi-automatic guns into illegal machine guns.
The accused, Justin Nudelman, Brandon Nudelman, Ronnie Mershon, and Michael Daddea, face charges that include conspiracy to traffic firearms and possession of machine guns. With the use of 3D printers and parts sourced online, Mershon and Justin Nudelman allegedly assembled the firearms, which lacked serial numbers, making them difficult for authorities to trace. Their unlicensed sales scheme was disrupted by law enforcement, with several of the said firearms already seized. As alleged, the defendants stepped outside the bounds of legality, crafting more than 25 ghost guns. Justin and Brandon Nudelman are additionally charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, accused of efforts to hide Justin's phone from law enforcement as detailed in the press release.
United States Attorney John J. Durham underscored the severity of the situation, stating to the U.S. Attorney's Office, "The defendants’ use of 3D printers to make untraceable, fully automatic weapons poses an extremely serious threat to public safety." ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller further highlighted the danger of the ghost guns, emphasizing their commitment "to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the flow of illegal firearms that fuels violence in our communities." The multi-agency collaboration, which resulted in these arrests and charges, stands as a testament to the concerted effort aimed at curbing the proliferation of illegal firearms and improving neighborhood safety.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch also weighed in, asserting, "These individuals thought they could evade law enforcement by using 3D printers to churn out illegal ghost guns and endanger our streets — but they were wrong." Their arrests showcase law enforcement's keen focus on individuals who threaten the security of New York City with unregistered weaponry. Unless and until proven guilty, the defendants retain the presumption of innocence, each facing a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted, as indicated by the allegations in the indictment. The prosecution is being led by Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati with assistance from Paralegal Specialist David Harrison.
