“The work conducted by special agents in California DOJ’s Bureau of Firearms is imperative to keeping Californians safe from harm. These special agents work continuously to remove firearms and ammunition from those prohibited by law from owning or possessing them.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
OAKLAND — On November 8, 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the arrest of a suspect found with dozens of illegal guns, hundreds of magazines, and approximately 80,000 rounds of ammunition in his home. The suspect was previously convicted of multiple felonies in Ventura County, and is prohibited from owning and possessing firearms and ammunition.
During a search of his home, special agents from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) also found and seized equipment to 3D-print ghost guns. The suspect is alleged to have manufactured unserialized firearms, including assault weapons, out of his home in Ventura.
The investigation began in October, when special agents from DOJ’s Bureau of Firearms (BOF), witnessed the suspect buying parts for an AR-15 rifle at a gun show in Ventura County. After getting a search warrant for the suspect’s home, agents found and seized:
- four assault weapons,
- five machine guns,
- seven rifles,
- two shotguns,
- seven handguns,
- three silencers,
- twelve lower receivers,
- approximately 80,000 rounds of ammunition,
- hundreds of magazines (including large capacity magazines).
- a 3D printer
- and parts and equipment used to manufacture firearms and ammunition.
Many of the seized firearms were ghost guns, which are unserialized and cannot be tracked by law enforcement. California law mandates that anyone who possesses, manufactures, or assembles lawful firearms without a serial number in the state apply to the DOJ for a unique serial number for each of their self-made firearms.
The suspect was booked into the Ventura County Jail on multiple felony charges related to the illegal possession and manufacture of firearms.
