BOSTON – Edward Nathan Gale, 24, of Springfield, Massachusetts, has confessed to a dangerous scheme involving the manufacture and distribution of untraceable “ghost guns” and illegal machinegun conversion devices, federal authorities confirmed Friday. Gale pleaded guilty to three felony counts in federal court, potentially facing decades behind bars.
According to court documents, between February 2022 and December 2022, Gale churned out approximately 50 privately made firearms – commonly known as “ghost guns” – and shipped them to buyers in Kansas and throughout Massachusetts. But his operation didn’t stop there. He also imported roughly 100 Glock-style “Glock switches” from China, devices that transform semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic machineguns. He then distributed around 60 of these switches, alongside other firearms and a silencer.
The ATF raided Gale’s Springfield residence on January 5, 2023, uncovering a workshop dedicated to illegal gun production. Agents seized a Pioneer Arms semi-automatic rifle, a substantial quantity of ammunition, and an array of tools and parts specifically used to build ghost guns. Evidence also confirmed his role in importing and distributing the deadly Glock switches. Adding to the severity of the case, Gale was already a convicted felon, making possession of firearms and ammunition illegal.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow, prosecuting the case from the Springfield Branch Office, laid out the charges: one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, one count of unlawful firearms dealing, and one count of unlawful possession of machineguns. Gale is now staring down a potential 15-year sentence for the first charge, five years for the second, and another ten years for the machinegun possession. He also faces up to three years of supervised release per count and has agreed to forfeit his Pioneer Arms rifle and ghost gun manufacturing equipment.
“This case highlights the growing threat of privately manufactured firearms and the dangerous consequences of illegally converting weapons into machineguns,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division. The investigation received valuable assistance from the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police.
U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized that sentencing will be determined by federal guidelines and statutes. Judge Mark G. Mastroianni has scheduled Gale’s sentencing hearing for June 14. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the final outcome, providing updates as they become available.
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