JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man accused of using a 3D printer to make machine guns and other firearms from his home pleaded not guilty Friday to multiple federal charges.
Lucas Shirley, 27, was recently indicted, and he had his first appearance Friday afternoon on the indictment in federal court. Shirley, wearing a red jail jumpsuit, pleaded not guilty to possessing short-barreled rifles, transferring short-barreled rifles, possessing unregistered rifles, and transferring unregistered firearms.
This is the latest example where federal agents say people are making ghost guns — hard-to-trace firearms — and selling them illegally.
In a 28-page criminal complaint, a federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent claims Shirley was making and selling thousands of dollars’ worth of firearms out of his Northside home — including short-barreled rifles, silencers, and conversion devices, turning firearms into machine guns.
According to court records, on Jan. 4, undercover agents purchased privately-made firearms from Shirley.
Then again, on Jan. 24, an undercover agent “conducted a controlled purchase of firearms from Shirley,” according to court records.
News4JAX on Thursday spoke with Rob Pincus, with the Second Amendment Organization. Pincus is a former law enforcement officer who now trains police. He is also a federally licensed firearms manufacturer. He said that while making firearms at home for personal use is legal, selling them is against the law and opens the doors for violent crimes.
Shirley’s next status hearing is March 20, and his tentative trial date is April 3.
If found guilty, Shirley could face a maximum sentence of 40 years total in prison and $1 million in fines.
Shirley was already on a 10-year probation for trying to sell methamphetamine. JSO arrested him for that in 2018.