Austin Plastic Gun Maker Arrested, Brought Back To U.S.

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Cody Wilson, the man fighting to publish instructions on making printable plastic guns online, has been brought back to the U.S. after being accused of having sex with a minor, law enforcement officials said.

Local law enforcement officials teamed up with those in Taipei, Taiwan, where Wilson fled after a 16-year-old girl made an outcry she had been sexually abused. Wilson is said to have paid the girl $500 for sex at a local hotel after meeting her on a dating website.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Wilson, 30, was booked into the Harris County Jail in Houston on Sunday evening.

Related stories:

Plastic Gun Maker Cody Wilson Arrested In Taiwan: Reports

Man At Center Of Plastic Gun Debate Faces Sex Assault Charge

“This was a collaborative effort that demonstrates the dedication of local, state, federal and international officials working together to bring this fugitive to justice,” Susan Pamerleau, U.S. marshal for the Western District of Texas, said.

Wilson's bail has been set at $150,000.

The man's capture comes after Austin police issued a warrant for his arrest on sexual assault charges. In a previous press conference, Austin police said a counselor contacted police after the girl said she had sex with Wilson at a hotel in exchange for money. The two met via a website called SugarDaddyMeet.com.

With his company Defense Distributed, Wilson gained national prominence for his efforts to sell desgigns on making untraceable, plastic guns. Despite lawsuits from 19 states and the District of Columbia and a federal judge's order to stop him from posting the designs online for free, Wilson began selling the instructions via the Internet.

Get Patch's Daily Newsletters and Real Time Alerts

>>> Top image: Cody Wilson, AP Photo/Eric Gay