NORRISTOWN, PA – In a major crackdown on illegal firearms, Montgomery County officials have dismantled a sophisticated gun trafficking ring accused of distributing untraceable weapons and illegal modifications throughout Pennsylvania. The district attorney, with the support of the state attorney general, outlined the extensive and advanced methods used by the group to produce and sell these dangerous firearms.
Leading the operation was 28-year-old Lucas Groff, whose organization allegedly operated out of storage units and homes in Pottstown and Boyertown. The group is accused of purchasing firearms legally from stores and then modifying them with 3D-printed components to create “ghost guns” — firearms without serial numbers that evade tracking.
In a press conference, District Attorney Kevin Steele showcased a variety of confiscated weapons, including semiautomatic firearms, suppressors, and “switches” that convert guns into automatic machine guns. Steele stressed the severe risk these weapons pose, noting their design for maximum lethality and minimal detectability by law enforcement.
Authorities recovered 17 of the 31 store-bought firearms, some of which had been found in the possession of felons or used in violent incidents. Steele and the attorney general urged the Pennsylvania legislature to enact stricter laws against these firearm modifications, aligning state law with federal regulations to better safeguard the public.
The nine-member ring’s activities were described as a comprehensive operation for illegal firearms, with the use of 3D printers to manufacture parts further complicating efforts to track and control the spread of these weapons. Steele’s urgent plea to lawmakers underscored the necessity for legislative action to curb the proliferation of such dangerous devices.
All suspects involved in the trafficking ring have been apprehended. Despite their arrest, the call for legislative reform remains critical, as a recent bill to ban the possession of switches in Pennsylvania failed to pass.