Roxborough Man Made Gun Parts With 3D Printer: DA

ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA — A Roxborough man has been charged with various crimes after authorities said he was making gun parts with a 3D printer in his home.

Daniel Whiteman, 36, of Roxborough, is charged with three counts of felony possession of a firearm Prohibited, one count of deliver firearm after 48 hours elapsed, and one count poses session of a controlled substance.

Whiteman was taken into custody April 1 during a search of his Roxborough home.

Authorities said when he was taken in, he was using a 3D printer to make a Polymer receiver, which essentially houses a firearm's operational mechanisms.

Authorities believe Whiteman assembled at least six firearms — also known as "ghost guns" — before his arrest, including Glock-style .9 mm and .22 caliber firearms.

It is also believed that he sold one of them and that this transferred gun was later used in the commission of a shooting, according to authorities.

The DA's office said authorities also found firearm-related supplies, including various ammunition calibers, gun oil, and gun magazines, as well as multiple rolls of 3D printer filament.

Police also found what is believed to be two clear packets of heroin/fentanyl at Whiteman's residence, the DA's office said.

"This frightening case is a clear-cut example of why we need our state legislature to modernize firearm safety laws that reflect the reality of 3D printing technology," Krasner said. "Our communities demand that state legislators in the thrall of the National Rifle Association wake up and start caring about public safety by passing commonsense gun regulation so that we can prevent the next Mr. Whiteman from producing and trafficking guns that jeopardize the lives of families and children."

"The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office Gun Violence Task Force want the public to know that the clear and present danger posed by ghost guns is a matter that we take extremely seriously," said GVTF Supervisor William Fritze. "We are committed to apprehending and appropriately prosecuting anyone who illegally obtains firearms and intends to use them to commit crimes."

Whiteman is being held on 10 percent of $750,000 bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 18.