Defendant pleads in ghost guns case
Farabaugh enters guilty plea; faces five years in prison
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A New Paris man pleaded guilty in federal court to a one-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to deal and manufacture firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced Wednesday.
Wayne Farabaugh, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines for his part in creating ghost guns and "hit kits" in an operation partially run by a retired police detective.
In December and October of 2023, respectively, Farabaugh's co-defendants Craig Zahradnik, 52, of Altoona, and Harry Miller, 47, of Martinsburg, each pleaded guilty to seven counts before Haines. Their charges included possession, manufacturing and trafficking of firearms, among other offenses.
In connection with their guilty pleas, Farabaugh, Zahradnik and Miller admitted that, between May 2022 and April 2023, they were part of a conspiracy to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license.
Specifically, Miller and Zahradnik were partners in an illicit business operation engaged in the manufacturing and trafficking of privately made firearms -- so-called ghost guns -- with Miller purchasing the components and maintaining many of the weapons at a storage unit that Zahradnik, a retired police detective, controlled.
Beginning in July 2022, Zahradnik provided $5,000 payments to Miller that Miller then deposited into his bank account, totaling $30,000. Miller used these funds to purchase the firearm components from outside Pennsylvania and repaid Zahradnik with the proceeds from the gun sales, including from the sale of what Miller marketed as "hit kits," consisting of a 9 mm Polymer80 handgun with no serial number, a threaded barrel to attach a silencer, a silencer, subsonic ammunition and latex gloves.
Farabaugh admitted that he assisted Miller and permitted him to use machinery at Farabaugh's place of employment to drill the components for ghost guns. Miller also used this equipment to manufacture untraceable weapons and weapon components that were required to be registered with the government under the National Firearms Act, including silencers, machine guns and short-barrel rifles. Zahradnik transported the "hit kits" and other firearms to and from Miller for scheduled buys. On other occasions, Miller and Zahradnik transported firearms together.
Zahradnik further admitted that, in March 2023, he transferred a firearm and ammunition to Miller, knowing that Miller intended to sell, dispose of, or transfer the firearm and ammunition in furtherance of a felony, and unlawfully transferred firearms that were not registered to him.
As part of their guilty pleas, Zahradnik and Farabaugh both admitted that they knew Miller was a convicted felon and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
During their plea hearings, Zahradnik and Miller further pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun, illegal trafficking in firearms and unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms.
"This case illustrates the extraordinary danger associated with the unlawful manufacturing and trafficking of ghost guns," Olshan said. "These defendants admitted selling so-called 'hit kits' to anyone looking for an untraceable firearm packaged together with a silencer and even latex gloves. The potential for lethal consequences is staggering."
"The unlawful sale of firearms is a primary focus of ATF," said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF's Philadelphia Field Division. "In this case, self-styled 'hit kits' pose a critical threat to the safety of our citizens. The result of this investigation is a testament to the longstanding collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners, including the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, the Altoona Police Department and the United States Attorney's Office."
Miller's sentencing is set for March 11, while Zahradnik's is scheduled for April 10 and Farabaugh's, May 15.
Zahradnik and Miller each face a maximum total sentence of 70 years in prison, a total fine of $1.27 million, or both.
Farabaugh could face a maximum sentence of five years.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.