The following is a press release issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On December 21, 2022, Detectives from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, along with agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), served a search warrant at a residence located in Hidden Valley Lake, within the County of Lake. The search warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into criminal activity involving the importing, manufacturing, distribution, and purchasing of unlawful firearm components.
A large quantity of firearm components were located at the residence, along with equipment indicating Justin Spillers, 35, was actively manufacturing non-serialized handguns and assault rifles, or “ghost guns”. Additionally, Spillers purchased and imported “Glock switches”. These particular firearm components are prohibited in the U.S. and the State of California, pursuant to California Penal Code 32625, as they convert a handgun to a fully automatic firearm or “machinegun”.
An assault weapon lower receiver was also located at the residence, which was being manufactured and assembled unlawfully. There was also evidence recovered indicating Spillers was manufacturing suppressors (aka silencers) for the firearms.
It was determined that Spillers had the capability to not only assemble unlawful firearms but also had the ability to design and manufacture completed firearms, as the necessary materials and tools were located at the residence.
Large capacity magazines were also located inside the residence, and evidence indicated they were also being assembled through parts shipped to that address. These large capacity magazines were capable of holding an excess of thirty (30) cartridges of live ammunition.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping our community safe and keeping non-serialized or “ghost guns” off our community’s streets and out of the hands of criminals. In 2022, the California Department of Justice awarded the Lake County Sheriff’s Office with a grant to fund a position dedicated to the Gun Violence Reduction Program. This case is a representation of the work being done within Lake County utilizing the grant.
Justin Spillers wasn’t present during the service of the search warrant and has yet to be contacted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about this investigation, or other individuals manufacturing firearms, is urged to contact Detective Nate Newton at 707-262-4236 or Nathaniel.newton@lakecountyca.gov
This case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for review.
Isn’t that protected by the second amendment?
Cans and select fire? Nah 1934 nfa took care of that. You could in theory pay the tax stamp, but definitely can’t make it in your garage then sell to criminals with no record keeping.
ALL rights have restrictions!