MANCHESTER, CT – Andrew Francoeur, 36, is facing a substantial prison sentence after admitting to running a clandestine ghost gun operation out of a shipping container in Suffield, Connecticut. The Manchester resident pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon, and manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license. The case underscores the growing threat of privately made firearms (PMFs) – commonly known as ghost guns – flooding the streets.
Federal investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) discovered Francoeur was sourcing firearm parts from a Missouri company, having them shipped directly to him. He then assembled the weapons within the confines of the shipping container, bypassing all legal requirements for serial numbers and background checks. Francoeur wasn’t just building these guns for himself; he was actively selling them, adding fuel to the fire of gun violence, according to court documents.
The ATF’s investigation took a turn in August 2022 while Francoeur was already behind bars on unrelated drug and firearm charges. Investigators seized two storage bins connected to Francoeur, revealing a disturbing cache of weaponry. The bins contained a .22 caliber rifle, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, a shocking 25 high-capacity magazines, and even M-80 explosives. Firearm gear and other related items were also recovered, painting a picture of a fully-equipped illegal gun manufacturing operation.
This wasn’t Francoeur’s first brush with the law. His lengthy criminal record includes prior felony convictions for firearm offenses, drug crimes, burglary, and failure to appear in court. This history made his current possession of firearms and ammunition a clear violation of federal law, as it’s illegal for convicted felons to possess such items that have crossed state lines.
Francoeur now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and an additional five years for manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license. That’s a potential total of 20 years behind bars. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6, 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson emphasized that this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime. PSN aims to target the most dangerous offenders and work with local organizations to prevent crime and help those re-entering society. The ATF continues to aggressively pursue those who illegally manufacture and distribute firearms, particularly the increasingly dangerous trend of ghost guns.
Related Federal Cases
- Andrew Francoeur, Ghost Guns, Connecticut 2023 · Connecticut
- Frank McChriston, Interstate Gun Theft, Texas 2024 · Missouri
- Shavarrius Smith, Ghost Gun Trafficking, CT 2021 · Connecticut
- Duayne Nelson, Illegal Guns & Machine Gun, New Haven CT, 2023 · Connecticut
- Niquelle Landelius, Ghost Gun & Narcotics, New Haven CT, 2023 · Connecticut
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