Federal court records report that a former Altoona detective, who was awaiting sentencing for his part in a business that sold illegal “ghost guns” and “hit kits,” has died.

On Dec. 1, 2023, Craig Zahradnik, 53, entered guilty pleas to seven counts of violating federal firearms laws, but his sentencing before U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines has been postponed on a monthly basis ever since at the request of his Pittsburgh attorney, Robert S. Carey.

Zahradnik, suffering from cancer, was initially placed on home detention, but as his condition worsened, his need for respite care increased.

The judge sealed his monthly medical reports, but on Aug. 22, the court received information that the defendant had died.

Based on that information, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon, who prosecuted the case, asked the judge to dismiss the charges against Zahradnik.

On Aug. 28, Haines agreed, indicating that it was in the interests of justice to dismiss the charges.

Her order was issued on Aug. 27.

Zahradnik worked for the Altoona Police Department for 13 years, but after retiring from the force, he worked as a private investigator.

According to court records, in fall 2022, agents of the Department of Alcohol Tobacco Firearm and Explosives began an investigation into the activities of a former Martinsburg man, Harry Miller, who was allegedly building and selling illegal assault rifles.

According to a sentencing document prepared by the prosecution, Miller and a local mechanic, Wayne Farabaugh, were assembling the guns.

The government contended that Zahradnik entered the picture in July 2022 by providing Miller, a convicted felon, with $30,000 to continue his illegal operations.

Investigators made three controlled purchases of the illegal weapons.

Federal authorities eventually obtained enough information to make arrests and dismantled the organization.

All three entered guilty pleas.

Zahradnik pled to seven counts that included conspiracy to deal and manufacture firearms without a license, engaging in the business of dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license, possession of a machine gun and transferring firearms in violation of the federal Firearms Act.

Miller received a 10-year prison sentence and is incarcerated in the Federal Correctional facility in Loretto.

Farabaugh was placed on probation for three years.

When it came to Zahradnik, the defense was seeking a time-served prison sentence.

The defense argued, “A lengthy period of incarceration is not needed to meet educational, vocational and rehabilitative needs. Craig Zahradnik is a college graduate (a degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Pittsburgh).”

The defense reported that Zahradnik was a triplet and that he was a high school football star who received a scholarship but eventually had to give up the game due to injury.

The government was seeking a lengthy sentence, noting Miller and Zahradnik were selling ghost guns, AR-15 style rifles and hit kits “that were designed and intended to appeal to prohibited customers to commit untraceable and possibly deadly crimes.”

“The length and breadth of defendant’s conduct in this case is stunning and inexcusable,” the government argued.