Pennsylvania Man Receives 30-Month Sentence for Unlicensed Sale of Ghost Guns

A resident of Annville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in illegally selling firearms that lack serial numbers, often referred to as “ghost guns.” According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Hector Colon, 35, was also ordered to serve 12 months of supervised release and pay $100 in financial penalties. His conviction stems from a guilty plea to conspiracy charges related to operating a business that sold firearms without the necessary federal license.

The investigation revealed that between August 5, 2021, and January 5, 2022, Colon and an associate, Samuel Snader, engaged in the sale of 28 privately made firearms, or PMFs, and 420 rounds of ammunition. These weapons, constructed from kits purchased online and assembled by Snader, were sold for cash and delivered in person, often in public locations like a Walmart parking lot. PMFs are defined as firearms completed or assembled by individuals or entities other than licensed manufacturers. Legally, these firearms must be serialized before being sold for profit. The court determined that Colon had reason to believe these untraceable weapons could end up in the hands of prohibited individuals or be used in criminal activities, demonstrating a disregard for public safety. All 28 firearms and the ammunition involved in the illegal sales were successfully recovered by law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted that from 2016 to 2021, law enforcement recovered approximately 45,240 suspected PMFs from crime scenes nationwide, underscoring the challenges these untraceable weapons pose. This case was part of a broader federal initiative aimed at combating violent crime and the proliferation of illegal firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General collaborated on the investigation, with the prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott F. Ford.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

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