UPPER POTTSGROVE — A 24-year-old resident of the 200 block of Mervine Street was charged with manufacturing and selling multiple firearms, also known as “ghost guns.”
In a press release issued Wednesday, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office, Adult Probation and Parole office, and Upper Pottsgrove Police announced the arrest of Tahmeir Wilson who is charged with manufacturing, marketing and selling dozens of “ghost guns.”
“Since privately made firearms have no serial numbers, this makes them virtually untraceable and poses a serious danger to the safety of our community,” District Attorney Kevin Steele said in the release.
The home in which Wilson was allegedly making these guns is two doors down from Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and two blocks from Pottsgrove Middle School.
In June of 2022, Wilson was arrested by Lower Pottsgrove Police and charged with carrying a firearm without a license, according to court records. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years probation and a condition of parole was that he was not allowed to possess any firearms.
The investigation into Wilson’s illegal firearm activities began in December of 2023 when Montgomery County Adult Probation and Parole conducted a home visit at Wilson’s Upper Pottsgrove residence and discovered numerous items used in the manufacturing of privately made firearms (ghost guns).
According to court records, Wilson was seen showing a weapon and ammunition during a recorded video call on Dec. 9, 2023, with an inmate at SCI Dallas, the state prison in Luzerne County. Then, 11 days later, the Department of Corrections Intelligence and Investigation Unit sent a second video to the probation office with Wilson showing the image of a web page generally used to sell stolen credit card information and items on the “dark web.”
Probation visited Wilson’s home, where two guns, several phones and laptop computers, along with multiple firearms parts and accessories “on a large scale, which is indicative of gun trafficking,” were observed, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Wilson was taken into custody.
Probations officials contacted the Montgomery County Detective Bureau who subsequently obtained a search warrant for Wilson’s residence, executed on Dec. 29, 2023, where they found further evidence of firearm manufacturing.
A search of Wilson’s property found a firearms production workshop in Wilson’s bedroom closet with tools needed to privately manufacture firearms, numerous personally manufactured firearm lowers, multiple magazines, including three drum mags, and two fully completed ghost guns. The investigation also found multiple photos of completed firearms being offered for resale, according to the press release.
Wilson’s phone was searched and messages between Wilson and various unnamed customers were found regarding the availability and sales of the firearms made by Wilson as well as messages dealing with the buying and selling of marijuana, the court records indicate.
The investigation that followed led detectives to conclude that Wilson “used numerous social media and communication platforms to communicate with his customer base,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.
“These personally manufactured firearms, “ghost guns” assembled from individual components rather than purchased as complete, serialized weapons, are designed to evade the scrutiny of law enforcement and by-pass the standard oversight mechanisms in place to regulate the sale and distribution of firearms,” Detective James Kemm wrote in the affidavit.
“By concealing the true origin and ownership of these weapons, he sought to undermine law enforcement’s ability to investigate violent crimes and trace the firearms back to their source and the end recipient of the firearm,” Kemm wrote. “The sheer volume of specialized tools and jigs recovered only underscored the level of sophistication and organization behind this illicit enterprise. Clearly, this was no mere hobby, but a concerted effort to subvert gun laws and flood the community with untraceable firearms.”
Wilson is charged with corrupt organization, conspiracy, illegal firearms sales, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal use of a communications facility, and other firearms charges.
Wilson was arrested and arraigned on Nov. 14. Magisterial District Judge Thomas Palladino arraigned the defendant and set bail at $99,077 cash.
A preliminary hearing for Wilson is scheduled for 10 a.m., Nov. 26, before Magisterial District Judge Maurice H. Saylor. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Waeltz.
