Crime
Man sentenced to jail after police discover multiple illegal ghost guns
A Massachusetts man has been sentenced after a discovery of multiple ghost guns.
Michael Roby, 39, has been sentenced to two and half years in the house of correction, 18 months to be served and the balance to be suspended for five years with conditions of release, by Judge William Sullivan in Norfolk Superior Court on Possession of a Silencer (Two Counts), Possession of Machine Gun (Two Counts), Possession of Explosives (Five Counts), Possession Large Capacity Magazine (20 Counts), Possession of a Firearm (Six Counts), Possession of Ammunition (One Count), Improper Storage of a Firearm (Three Counts), and Unlawful Possession of Fireworks (One Count).
“Ghost guns pose a serious threat to public safety – they’re untraceable and are often made from easily obtained items, allowing people to circumvent our laws,” said AG Healey. “My office is working with our partners in law enforcement to keep these deadly firearms off our streets.”
Roby was arrested in July 2019 in connection with a joint investigation with the AG’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Homeland Security Investigations Task Force, Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Wrentham Police Department. During the execution of a search warrant at Roby’s Wrentham residence, law enforcement officers from the Massachusetts State Police recovered six ghost guns that Roby had built himself, along with several large capacity magazines, and ammunition. Investigators believe that Roby had used gun powder from the devices to build the firearms and law enforcement had previously intercepted two Glock selector switches, which are considered bump stocks in Massachusetts, that Roby had ordered to be mailed to his house.
“Ghost guns” are untraceable, privately made firearms that lack serial numbers or other identifying marks. These firearms are often manufactured from firearm parts kits that include an unfinished firearm that the buyer can complete assembly of at home, a task that can be easily accomplished with ordinary household tools. The legal purchase of these kits, whether through online retailers or at brick and mortar gun shops, can lead to the illegal possession of an untraceable firearm once the firearm is assembled.
In 2018, Massachusetts became the first state to outlaw bump stocks, which are accessories that allow semi-automatic firearms to mimic the rapid firing action of machine guns.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Kaitlyn O’Leary of the AG’s Enterprise, Cyber, and Major Crimes Division. The AG’s Digital Evidence Lab assisted with the investigation of this ca
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Gene Jackson
October 11, 2020 at 8:44 pm
Ghost guns are not dangerous nor are they illegal! Guns are not dangerous anymore than a car is unless in the wrong hands i.e. mental patients criminals ect drunks irresponsible kids ect…the man should be set free and the 2nd amendment should be honored in ALL states!!!
Scott esk
October 12, 2020 at 8:38 pm
I appreciate your comment, Gene, but I would also add that study after study finds that people with mental problems are almost always the VICTIMS of crime rather than perpetrators of crimes. In the case of sociopaths, they most often gravitate toward illegal things either as criminals or as politicians…
Andrew Cerrault
October 12, 2020 at 10:51 am
Well said Gene! As someone that has an interest in designing and building new types of guns, how would one even begin with these types of draconian laws? MA is clearly violating this man’s constitutionally affirmed second amendment rights.
All hope is lost
October 12, 2020 at 10:52 am
Ignorance is rampant with the state, the police, and the media covering this.
The author of this article could have done 5 minutes of research and prevented themselves from looking like such a hack.
“Investigators believe that Roby had used gun powder from the devices to build the firearms and law enforcement had previously intercepted two Glock selector switches, which are considered bump stocks in Massachusetts, that Roby had ordered to be mailed to his house.”
He built guns from gunpowder?
Glock selector switches make a gun fully automatic, bump stocks do not. The selector switches would have been a federal crime and carried more weight.
J McC
October 12, 2020 at 10:58 am
This is why we need to vote!!! We ned to vote out these anti-America politicians. We the people have the right to Bear Arms.
Bryce
October 12, 2020 at 11:39 am
Wow I guess the 2nd amendment means nothing in massachusetts
Michael E. Feucht
October 12, 2020 at 12:22 pm
I would like to know how a firearm is made out of gunpowder. That is a first time I’ve heard of that. Sounds like Massachusetts has become a Nazi state in terms of Second Amendment rights.
Michael S Bailey
October 12, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Boycott everything from this state , they exaggerate everything , machines guns my ass , I swear do these stupid citizens that allow these laws think smothered gun owners will remedy mental health issues ,stupid weak corrupt stupid weak corrupt government and voters