Lizella man pleads guilty to manufacturing 3D-printed machine guns and silencers
Agents seized 3D printers, firearms, silencers and methamphetamine during a search of the Lizella man’s home.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A 20-year-old Lizella man admitted in federal court to illegally manufacturing machine guns and silencers using 3D printing technology in his bedroom and could be sentenced up to ten years in prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Jaden Michael-William Pope, a technical college student, pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing an unregistered machine gun before U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell on Monday. Pope faces up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13. Federal law does not allow for parole.
“3D-printed machine guns and silencers pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities by increasing the access of illegally manufactured rapid-fire weapons to potentially dangerous individuals,” Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker said. “I applaud our local and federal law enforcement partners for shutting down this clandestine machinegun manufacturing operation.”
Law enforcement began investigating Pope in September 2023 after the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office linked him to a series of firearm thefts from vehicles. Pope admitted to stealing guns, and investigators found photos of manufactured firearms and silencers on his phone, along with 3D printing templates for AR-15 automatic sears from a website called Yeggi. A confidential source also reported witnessing Pope manufacture silencers and use them in test firings.
On December 12, 2023, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant at Pope’s home. They seized four 3D printers, three computers, two machine guns, nine silencers, a short-barreled rifle and a stolen .45-caliber pistol. Investigators also found blueprints, failed 3D prints, programming codes for manufacturing firearms and methamphetamine hidden in a USB device.
“The collaboration between ATF and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office showcases our unwavering commitment to confronting the illegal production of firearms, especially those created through advanced methods like 3D printing,” ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka said. “These weapons are designed to evade detection and accountability, posing an undeniable threat to public safety. Together, we are ensuring such dangers are swiftly and decisively addressed.”
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The case was investigated by ATF and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, and Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case.
