Felon Arrested In Newport Beach Pleads Guilty To Gun, Drug Charges

SANTA ANA, CA — A convicted felon admitted this week to having illicit drugs and a "ghost gun" in possession in Newport Beach in 2021, federal officials announced.

Joseph Daniel Miller, 41, pleaded guilty in a Santa Ana federal courthouse to having at least 50 grams of methamphetamine in his possession with the intent to distribute and for being a felon in possession of ammunition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, said.

Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8, the ATF said.

Miller was arrested on Jan. 5, 2021, in the parking lot of a Newport Beach Del Taco, the ATF said.

Officers found Miller with several illegal drugs, including heroin, cocaine and 127 grams of methamphetamine, federal officials said.

Ginger Colbrun, a spokeswoman for the ATF, told City News Service Miller's cellphone had multiple text messages where he was arranging drug deals with customers.

Miller also had a "Polymer80, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, bearing no serial number," Colbrun said.

City News Service contributed to this report.