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In Santa Clara, California, an 18-year-old from San Jose now faces serious legal consequences after allegedly crafting nearly 30 so-called “ghost” guns within the confines of his own bedroom. This startling revelation has sent ripples through the community as authorities grapple with the implications of such activities.
Jacob Reyes, the young man at the center of this case, was apprehended on suspicion of multiple felony charges, including possession of a machine gun. The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office reported that Reyes was also involved in the unauthorized manufacturing of firearms using a 3D printer, an activity that has raised significant concerns about public safety and the proliferation of untraceable weapons.
According to the DA’s office, Reyes was operating two 3D printers in his room, allegedly producing these firearms alongside a collection of Air Jordan sneakers. Authorities discovered 27 guns in various stages of completion, with some reportedly modified to emulate the capabilities of machine guns.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen weighed in on the situation, expressing grave concern over the illicit trade of firearms. “There is a black market of weapons thriving right under our noses,” Rosen remarked in a press release. He praised the efforts of the DA’s investigators and their law enforcement partners for successfully removing this cache of illegal and potentially dangerous weapons from circulation.
As the case progresses, Reyes could face significant prison time if convicted, underscoring the serious nature of these allegations and the broader implications for community safety in the age of advanced technologies like 3D printing.
All but one gun found in the home was printed, according to the release.Â
The DA’s office said Reyes faces prison time if convicted but did not specify how much he could face.
What are ghost guns?
Ghost guns are any privately made firearms without the serial numbers that allow police to trace weapons used in crime.Â
They have been used in high-profile crimes, including a mass shooting carried out with an AR-15-style ghost gun in Philadelphia that left five people dead. Police believe a ghost gun used in the slaying of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in Manhattan was made on a 3D printer rather than assembled from a kit.
The number of ghost guns found at crime scenes around the country has also soared, according to federal data. Fewer than 1,700 were recovered by law enforcement in 2017, but that number grew to 27,000 in 2023, according to Justice Department data.