NEW YORK, NY – Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the guilty plea of Cliffie Thompson, 36, for operating a sophisticated ghost gun factory in his East Village apartment. Thompson pled guilty to various charges, including six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, on November 15, 2023. He is set for sentencing on January 8, 2024, with an expected term of 5 years in state prison and 3 years post-release supervision.
The District Attorney’s statement highlighted the significance of this case in the broader context of New York City’s fight against the proliferation of ghost guns. Bragg emphasized the need for legislative action to make the manufacturing of 3D-printed guns and parts illegal, closing existing loopholes.
Court documents revealed that Thompson’s arrest on January 15, 2023, for assaulting his girlfriend led to the discovery of his ghost gun operation. A search warrant executed at his apartment on January 16 uncovered five firearms, ammunition, two 3-D printers, plastic filaments, a kiln, and partially completed 3-D printed gun parts. Tools for manufacturing guns and about 36 blank forged credit cards containing personal identifying information of others were also found.
The Manhattan DA’s office, in collaboration with the NYPD and other law enforcement partners, has been actively combating the spread of ghost guns through its Ghost Guns Initiative, launched in 2020. The initiative has led to significant seizures, including over 104 ghost gun parts, 90 firearms, and various other illegal items.
Assistant D.A. Michael Kelley leads the prosecution, with assistance from colleagues and investigative and high-tech analysis units. The case underscores the ongoing challenges posed by ghost guns in urban areas and the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts to address this issue.