FBI Canton and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Together with State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Announce Arrest of North Canton Man for Weapons Violations
Canton Resident Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Stark County Safe Streets Task Force and its state and local partners, the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol announce the arrest of Christopher Machamer, 26, of North Canton, Ohio.
Following a search warrant and according to a federal complaint, on or about January 4, 2024, Christopher Machamer violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(k), Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d), Receiving or Possessing an NFA Firearm not Registered to the Possessor in the NFRTR, and Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(f), Manufacturing a Firearm in Violation of NFA.
During the search warrant, Agents found the following items of evidentiary value:
- One fully assembled AR-15 style rifle with a barrel measuring approximately 9.25 inches, with an obliterated serial number
- One AR-15 style lower receiver with an obliterated serial number
- 10 fully assembled AR-15 style rifles with barrels measuring approximately 9.25 inches, bearing no serial numbers
- Nine AR-15 style lower receivers, bearing no serial numbers
- One drill press (covered and surrounded in aluminum shavings)
- Two “Ghost Gunner” brand CNC mills (both containing aluminum shavings)
- 25 serialized AR-15 style lower receivers
A federal search warrant was also executed at Machamer’s parents’ residence. During the search warrant, a safe was identified to be owned and utilized by Machamer. In the safe identified as belonging to Machamer, Agents found the following items:
- Five AR-15 style rifles
- Two short barrel shotguns
- Six handguns
- Eight suppressors
- One AK-47 style lower receiver
- $3,000 in United States Currency
Machamer had his initial appearance in the US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio on January 8, 2024. This is considered an ongoing investigation and additional details cannot be provided. A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
In June 2023, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland together with the FBI Criminal Division, ATF, DEA, the US Marshals Service and all 93 U.S. Attorneys met to discuss ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime and combat the gun violence that fuels it. During that meeting, AG Garland reiterated his February 2022 direction to U.S Attorneys’ Offices to prioritize combating gun violence. Among other actions, the Attorney General directed U.S. Attorneys to increase prosecutorial resources devoted to cracking down on illegal firearm trafficking pipelines, to hold accountable those who possess unlawful “ghost guns,” and to pursue investigations against unlawful gun dealing.
