Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced today the arrest of Zairre Hamlett, 25, for trafficking “ghost guns,” which are firearms without serial numbers.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Abington Township and Philadelphia police departments were involved in his capture. Hamlett was charged by Philadelphia police with six felonies, including illegal transfers of firearms. He was arraigned and bail was set at $600,000.
Officials said Hamlett conducted numerous illegal sales of firearms without serial numbers in and around Philadelphia. Investigators surveilled sales of five pistols (all ghost guns) since October, including two with illegal machine gun conversion switches.
During a search warrant at Hamlett’s Dauphin Street home, officials found other firearms, including a 3-D printed privately-made firearm, ammunition, and additional materials to print firearms at home.
“Ghost guns exist for criminals to avoid detection by law enforcement, and every one of these deadly weapons should be considered a direct threat to public safety,” Attorney General Sunday said. “This significant arrest, and the seizure of several firearms, do not happen without collaboration between local and federal partners committed to protecting Pennsylvanians who desire — and deserve — to live free and safe in their communities.”
“This investigation highlights the serious and growing threat posed by the illegal manufacture and trafficking of ghost guns and fully automatic firearms within the region,” Abington Township Police Chief Patrick Molloy said. “The arrest of Zairre Hamlett and the seizure of multiple firearms, machine gun conversion devices, and manufacturing equipment not only disrupted an active trafficking operation, but also prevented these weapons from being further distributed into the community. I could not be prouder of the members of the Abington Police Department and our partners in the ATF, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Department who, through a collaborative effort, were able to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion.”
“Every ghost gun and every conversion switch taken off our streets represents lives that may have been saved,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel said. “This investigation shows exactly how dangerous these trafficking operations are — and why coordinated work between the Philadelphia Police Department, ATF, the Attorney General’s Office, and our local partners is so critical. We will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who manufactures, sells, or distributes illegal firearms that put our neighborhoods at risk.”
The case will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section.
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Photo: AG’s Office