By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2023
Jacksonville man Lucas Shirley, 27, was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on four counts related to the manufacture and possession of firearms that were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record at his home.
In the 28-page federal criminal complaint, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) say that Shirley used electronic devices, including cell phones and 3D printers, to manufacture, possess, advertise and distribute firearms, which included short-barred rifles, silencers, and devices to convert various firearms into machine guns, investigators say.
Investigators say a confidential informant placed an order with Shirley to construct and purchase several homemade rifles and silencers.
The criminal complaint reveals texts sent from Shirley to the CI:
“No spoilers, but I’ve got you hooked up with the s*** that the seals run, in your preferred length, with all steel handcrafted, full welded hush cans… and the high end and top tier features you’ll just have to see lol.”
The undercover BATFE agent, along with the CI, arrived at Shirley’s northside Jacksonville home, where Shirley was allegedly producing the guns, and noted that there was various manufacturing equipment located in the residence, including a smelting pot covered with a metallic substance on the kitchen floor, a 3D printer in the living room, a welding bench with ventilation set-up, and another room described as the ‘painting area.’
Investigators secured a warrant for Shirley’s arrest based on this information.
Shirley’s price totaled $10,900 for four rifles, four silencers, and two pistols.
The agent noted in the criminal complaint that Shirley said he was “a firm believer that ATF does not have any business knowing what someone has in their house.”
At the time of the arrest, Shirley was still serving a 10-year probation term in connection to a 2018 arrest by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for the possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine.)
Shirley will remain in federal custody until his court date.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, www.floridajolt.com, The Counterterrorist Magazine, American Thinker, Soldier of Fortune, Homeland Security Today, Off Grid, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International. Contact him at [email protected].