Maryland man arrested for allegedly manufacturing 80 ghost guns

BALTIMORE -- A man was arrested Tuesday evening after police found 80 illegal ghost guns and an arsenal of weapons inside a home, according to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. 

Police said Jerod Taylor, 39, fled the scene of a reported domestic assault on November 7 before police responded to a home in the 20000 block of Goddard Road in Lexington Park.

During their investigation, officers found multiple guns in plain sight, despite Taylor being barred from possessing firearms due to his prior convictions.  

Detectives executed a search warrant at the home and in nearby vehicles, leading to what police called an "extensive collection" of weapons.  

Police said they found 3D-printed "ghost guns," semi-automatic rifles, handguns, shotguns, an AK-47, 18 suppressors, and over 1,300 rounds of ammunition. They also found 74 auto sears, which are used to convert firearms to fully automatic weapons, and a 3D-printed, fully automatic rifle were also found.

Taylor is charged with illegal possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of an assault weapon with intent to sell, second-degree assault, and several other related charges. He also has an outstanding warrant for theft, according to police. 

What is a Ghost Gun? 

According to Maryland State Police, a ghost gun is a firearm made with unfinished parts that do not have serial numbers, making them difficult to trace. 

In March 2023, a law went into effect in the state, prohibiting the sale of ghost guns and requiring that all privately made firearms have serial numbers. A law that banned the sale of ghost guns also went into effect that month. 

In February 2024, Baltimore City reached a $1.2 million settlement with Polymer80 Inc., a ghost gun manufacturer that was allegedly undermining firearms laws by selling ghost gun kits and parts to buyers who did not complete background checks. 

In 2023, the Baltimore Police Department recovered 462 ghost guns.