Press Release  Wrentham Man Sentenced to Jail in Connection with Possession of Illegal, Untraceable Ghost Guns

Boston — A Wrentham man has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to more than a year in jail for illegally possessing firearms in connection with investigations resulting in the seizure of “ghost guns” and bump stocks, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Michael Roby, 39, has been sentenced to two and half years in the house of correction, 18 months to be served and the balance to be suspended for five years with conditions of release, by Judge William Sullivan in Norfolk Superior Court on the following charges:

• Possession of a Silencer (Two Counts)
• Possession of Machine Gun (Two Counts)
• Possession of Explosives (Five Counts)
• Possession Large Capacity Magazine (20 Counts)
• Possession of a Firearm (Six Counts)
• Possession of Ammunition (One Count)
• Improper Storage of a Firearm (Three Counts)
• Unlawful Possession of Fireworks (One Count)

“Ghost guns pose a serious threat to public safety – they’re untraceable and are often made from easily obtained items, allowing people to circumvent our laws,” said AG Healey. “My office is working with our partners in law enforcement to keep these deadly firearms off our streets.” 

Roby was arrested in July 2019 in connection with a joint investigation with the AG’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Homeland Security Investigations Task Force, Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Wrentham Police Department. During the execution of a search warrant at Roby’s Wrentham residence, law enforcement officers from the Massachusetts State Police recovered six ghost guns that Roby had built himself, along with several large capacity magazines, and ammunition. Investigators believe that Roby had used gun powder from the devices to build the firearms and law enforcement had previously intercepted two Glock selector switches, which are considered bump stocks in Massachusetts, that Roby had ordered to be mailed to his house.

“Ghost guns” are untraceable, privately made firearms that lack serial numbers or other identifying marks. These firearms are often manufactured from firearm parts kits that include an unfinished firearm that the buyer can complete assembly of at home, a task that can be easily accomplished with ordinary household tools. The legal purchase of these kits, whether through online retailers or at brick and mortar gun shops, can lead to the illegal possession of an untraceable firearm once the firearm is assembled.

In 2018, Massachusetts became the first state to outlaw bump stocks, which are accessories that allow semi-automatic firearms to mimic the rapid firing action of machine guns.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Kaitlyn O’Leary of the AG’s Enterprise, Cyber, and Major Crimes Division. The AG’s Digital Evidence Lab assisted with the investigation of this case.

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