SAUK RAPIDS, MN – A Sauk Rapids man is facing five years in federal prison after admitting to building and selling untraceable “ghost guns,” including a fully automatic machinegun and a silencer. Jay James Olson, 22, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 60 months, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to one count of willfully engaging in the business of manufacturing firearms without a license.
The case, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), revealed Olson was operating a clandestine firearms manufacturing operation from his Sauk Rapids and Waite Park residences. Between fall 2021 and April 2022, Olson built firearms for profit, blatantly disregarding federal regulations requiring licensing and serial numbers. He wasn’t a licensed manufacturer, and he never had been.
Federal investigators discovered Olson wasn’t just assembling firearms; he was actively seeking customers and exploiting a loophole in the law. In the spring of 2022, Olson offered a confidential source – an individual working *with* law enforcement – a shopping list of illegal weaponry for $20,000. That list included 16 ghost guns, nine high-capacity magazines, a silencer, a machinegun conversion device, and carbine conversion kits. He even bragged about raising prices due to increased scrutiny of ghost guns by the federal government.
The sting operation culminated on April 26, 2022, in Waite Park, where Olson completed the illegal sale. Immediately following the transaction, authorities arrested Olson and raided both his Sauk Rapids and Waite Park homes. Searches uncovered firearm assembly kits, unserialized lower receivers, and a treasure trove of parts. A diagram for assembling a Glock firearm was also found in Olson’s basement.
According to court documents, Olson wasn’t just a manufacturer; he was a trafficker, actively seeking buyers he knew—or should have known—were prohibited from owning firearms or intended to use them for criminal activity. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger stated that Olson’s actions posed a “serious threat to the safety of our communities,” and the maximum sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes.
“Firearms trafficking puts dangerous weapons in the hands of violent criminals and will absolutely not be tolerated,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge William McCrary. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt lauded the collaborative effort between multiple agencies, highlighting the importance of partnerships in curbing gun violence. Judge Eric C. Tostrud handed down the sentence yesterday, bringing a temporary end to Olson’s illegal operation. The case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by ghost guns and the ongoing efforts to dismantle these unregulated firearms networks.
Related Federal Cases
- Guy George Parenteau, Firearms Burglary, MT, 2013 · Montana
- David Michael Ansberry, Explosive Device Planting, CO, 2023 · Illinois
- Usama Darwich Hamade, UAV Component Smuggling, USA 2023 · Illinois
- Troy Willoughby, Rifle Possession, MT 2023 · Montana
- Delonta Phillips, High-Speed Pursuit, DC 2017 · Maryland
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