Brian McCarthy, 33, of Bridgeport, Conn., is facing federal charges for trafficking untraceable firearms into Massachusetts, peddling homemade ‘ghost guns’ to an undercover agent in a sting that ended with his arrest and a cache of weapons seized from his apartment.
Federal prosecutors in Boston charged McCarthy with one count of dealing firearms without a federal license—a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. McCarthy has been in state custody since July 31, 2020, and will make his initial appearance in federal court at a later date.
According to the criminal complaint, between June 17 and July 31, 2020, McCarthy traveled to Massachusetts and sold two Glock-style Privately Made Firearms (PMFs) to an undercover officer. These weapons, commonly known as ‘ghost guns,’ are assembled from kits and lack serial numbers, making them untraceable by law enforcement.
McCarthy personally fabricated the firearms, using parts purchased from manufacturers and assembling them with specialized drilling tools. The transactions were part of a targeted investigation by federal and state authorities aiming to disrupt the underground flow of unregistered weapons.
After the final sale on July 31, McCarthy was taken into custody. A search of his Bridgeport apartment uncovered two additional Glock-style PMFs, one AR15/M4-type rifle upper receiver, accessories for AR15/M4 rifles, multiple semi-automatic magazines, approximately 250 rounds of ammunition, and an array of firearm construction tools used to build the weapons.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit. Authorities involved in the announcement include U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelly Brady, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn. The investigation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the DOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime through coordinated federal, state, and local enforcement. The charges remain allegations; McCarthy is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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