Saint George Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Untraceable Firearms Without a License

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Jerome Daniel Sanders, 44, of Saint George, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to dealing privately manufactured firearms without a license and possessing a firearms silencer in violation of the National Firearms Act.

Evidence presented in court established that Sanders began advertising non-serialized privately manufactured firearms for sale online in 2020. During the investigation, ATF agents discovered that Sanders used specialized manufacturing equipment to mass-produce these untraceable firearms and then sell them without a federal firearms license. Between 2020 and 2022, Sanders listed 112 of these firearms for sale online and made several other in-person sales, including to undercover ATF agents. Sanders also sold a homemade fully functional firearms silencer to an undercover ATF agent during the investigation.

On June 3, 2023, federal agents conducted a search warrant at Sanders’ residence and recovered 35 firearms with serial numbers, 28 firearms without serial numbers, a cutting machine and drill press used to manufacture firearms, $20,000 in cash, and various other firearm manufacturing paraphernalia.

“Untraceable firearms in the hands of dangerous persons pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will investigate and prosecute those who illegally manufacture untraceable firearms and sell them for profit without a license.”

“While it is legal to build a firearm for personal use, those engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling firearms without a federal firearms license are breaking the law and threatening our public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Individuals conducting business in this unlawful manner often put firearms in the hands of prohibited individuals. These firearms are also almost impossible to trace, which can impact investigations involving violent gun crime.”

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Sanders to 2 years in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also ordered Sanders to forfeit his proceeds, firearms, and manufacturing equipment as part of the judgment.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Low Country Violent Crime Task Force, and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.

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