Contra Costa Man Faces Charges For 3D-Printed Machine Gun

BRENTWOOD, CA — A Brentwood man was charged in federal court this week on suspicion of unlawful possession of a 3D-printed machine gun conversion device.

Noah Kanaye Bauer, 21, was arrested Tuesday and made his initial appearance in federal district court in Oakland Wednesday morning, according to a joint announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani.

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a machine gun.

According to federal authorities, machine gun conversion devices, also known as "switches" or "auto sears," are designed and created to convert a semi-automatic Glock-type pistol into a fully automatic machine gun.

Brentwood Police Department responded Sept. 6, 2024, to a call regarding a person armed with a gun at a grocery store and found Bauer with had a 3D-printed Glock-style firearm, according to court documents unsealed Wednesday in the case.

Officers said that when they removed the firearm from the front of Bauer’s waistband, there was no serial number on it. Bauer was arrested at that time on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon.

In a search of Bauer’s home following his September arrest, it is alleged a 3D printing machine, three 3D printed pistol frames and a 3D printed machine gun conversion device were found in Bauer's bedroom.

According to court documents, a Brentwood police officer looked at a list of items recently used on the 3D printer and saw two files titled "sear tip" and "sear body" that police believe were used to manufacture the two pieces of the machine gun conversion device.

When officers questioned Bauer on what the conversion devices were used for, it is alleged that Bauer said “to make it shoot faster.”

Bauer is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis Westmore.

The prosecution against Bauer follows an investigation by the FBI with assistance from the Brentwood Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

If convicted, Bauer could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.