CALIFORNIA
A man plead guilty Thursday to manufacturing and dealing in firearms and possessing an unregistered machine gun
Daniel Albert Crowninshield, 45, of Sacramento, California, admitted to operating an unlicensed firearms and manufacturing business out of C&G Tool, a metal shop in North Sacramento, officials said.
Crowninshield is facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Using sophisticated computer controlled machines, officials said
Crowninshield manufactured lower receivers for AR-15s and other firearms. Crowninshield did not conduct background checks, enforce waiting periods, or complete firearm transaction paperwork, officials said.
Crowninshield advertised such services on at least one online firearm enthusiast forum.
This website mainly consists of forums where people ask and answer questions related to firearms. Crowninshield, using the moniker Dr-Death was a prolific poster on the website. Additionally, other members frequently posted about Dr-Death, including review of service provided and recommending that other users visit his shop.
“The manufacturing and unlicensed sale for profit of high-capacity firearms is a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner. “We will continue to vigorously investigate unlicensed gun dealers and prosecute violations of the federal firearms laws.”
“Daniel Crownshield aka Dr. Death owned and operated a machine shop where he allowed customers with unknown backgrounds to use his machinery to unlawfully manufacture firearms for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF regulates the firearm industry and it is illegal to manufacture and sell firearms without possessing a federal firearms license and without conducting background checks. ATF’s goal is to keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited individuals and prevent violent crime.”
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Firearms investigated this case with the assistance of the Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol.