Las Vegas man accused of making ‘ghost guns’ with 3D printers
A Las Vegas man, accused of manufacturing more than a dozen “ghost guns” using a series of 3D printers, pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court.
Clarence Meekins, 36, was indicted on seven criminal counts: manufacturing firearms without a license, two counts of illegally possessing a machine gun and four counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to a criminal complaint filed earlier in the case, Meekins sold a pistol that had been 3D-printed to a federal informant, along with a machine gun conversion device designed to convert a Glock pistol into a machine gun. The device was analyzed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Privately made firearms, with no serial numbers, are commonly referred to as “ghost guns.” Federal agents say the lack of serial numbers makes ghost guns difficult, if not impossible, to trace.
According to the complaint, a search of a home on Narnia Street in Las Vegas, which Meekins was using, turned up three 3D printers and 13 pistol frames that had been 3D-printed.
The pistol frames did not have serial numbers, according to the complaint.
Also confiscated during the search were a .38 Special revolver, a shotgun and various ammunition magazines, the complaint states.
Court records indicate that Meekins has felony convictions in New York for drug crimes and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Those convictions make him unable to legally possess any firearms.
Meekins is free on his own recognizance. His trial was set for Oct. 17 before U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon.
Contact Glen A. Meek at gmeek@reviewjournal.com or 602-380-8951.
