A 20-year-old technical college student from Lizella, Georgia, has admitted to illegally manufacturing machineguns and silencers using a 3D printer. Jaden Michael-William Pope pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing an unregistered machinegun in front of U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell on January 27. Pope could face up to ten years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 13.
Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker emphasized the dangers posed by such activities: “3-D printed machineguns and silencers pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities by increasing the access of illegally manufactured rapid-fire weapons to potentially dangerous individuals.” She commended law enforcement for halting Pope's operations.
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka highlighted the importance of collaboration between agencies: "The collaboration between ATF and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office showcases our unwavering commitment to confronting the illegal production of firearms, especially those created through advanced methods like 3D printing."
Pope was initially investigated by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office in September 2023 for stealing firearms from vehicles at night. Upon his arrest, investigators discovered photos on his phone showing homemade firearms and silencers, along with screenshots from Yeggi—a website offering 3D-printed templates for AR-15 full auto sears.
Further investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) revealed images on Pope's Facebook profile displaying self-manufactured firearms. He described himself as a "machinist" and a technical college student on his profile.
A search warrant executed at Pope's residence on December 12, 2023, uncovered four 3D printers, three computers, two machineguns, nine silencers, a short-barreled rifle, and a stolen .45 caliber pistol. Additional evidence found included diagrams for firearm construction and computer codes used in their manufacture.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through community cooperation with law enforcement agencies. The Department of Justice relaunched this strategy on May 26, 2021.
The investigation was conducted by ATF alongside the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is leading the prosecution for this case.