A 36-year-old United States national has been handed a sentence of more than five years in jail for his involvement in a far-reaching scheme that saw the trafficking of more than 100 “ghost guns” to the Dominican Republic.
The verdict was announced by Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Guilty plea and sentencing
Robert Alcantara, the individual at the center of this case, was sentenced by US District Judge Vernon S. Broderick after he pleaded guilty to two serious charges: conspiring to traffic firearms and conspiring to launder money.
Damian Williams, who hails from a Jamaican-born family, emphasized the gravity of Alcantara’s actions, stating, “Robert Alcantara alone trafficked over 100 untraceable ghost guns to the Dominican Republic. The proliferation of unlawful ghost guns is a threat to public safety, and our response is clear: we will not let up.”
Operating a “ghost gun” factory
Allegations against Alcantara detailed in charging documents and court statements reveal a startling timeline of events. From 2017 until January 2022, he ran a “ghost gun” factory right from his home in Rhode Island.
The indictment outlines that Alcantara acquired ghost gun kits from various sources, including gun shows. Subsequently, he transformed these kits into fully functional firearms.
The exportation of untraceable firearms
Once these untraceable firearms were completed, Alcantara’s illicit operation took a more international turn as he exported and sold these weapons to the Dominican Republic.
Reports are that most of the guns trafficked were handguns, although some rifles were also part of the contraband.
A significant haul
The indictment further underlines the scale of Alcantara’s operation.
On November 20, 2021, he was apprehended while in possession of kits intended to construct approximately 45 more ghost guns.
During questioning by law enforcement agents, Alcantara admitted to having an additional 50 similar ghost guns at his residence.
Legal consequences
In addition to the prison term, Robert Alcantara has been sentenced to three years of supervised release.
This verdict sends a strong message regarding the consequences of engaging in such illicit activities.
Acknowledging investigative efforts
US Attorney Damian Williams commended the “outstanding investigative work” carried out by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, as well as the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office.
