Accused Marin ‘Ghost Gun’ Maker Pleads Guilty: DOJ

MILL VALLEY, CA — A Marin man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to federal charges for the making and selling unserialized “ghost guns,” the Department of Justice said in a news release.

James William Palmer, 38 of Mill Valley, pleaded guilty to one count of unlicensed firearms manufacturing and dealing, the DOJ said.

The count carries a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Palmer remains out of custody pending his sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 12, the DOJ said.

Palmer in his plea agreement admitted that from May 2020 to January 2021 he built and sold firearms without a license, and that he knew it was unlawful to do so, the DOJ said.

He admitted he manufactured firearms at his Mill Valley home, where he maintained an area in his garage for his firearms, the DOJ said. He also admitted to selling marijuana during that period.

Palmer communicated with buyers and sellers of firearms via text messages in which he discussed the prices for firearms, the meeting places for transactions, and the amounts owed, the DOJ said.

His plea agreement described his use of a white board to write down customer names and numbers and the amounts owed or paid by the customers.

As an example of one of his firearms sales, Palmer described a sale in October 2020 of a Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol to a customer for $780.

Palmer on his day of arrest (Jan. 27, 2021) was driving his car and had ammunition in his pants pocket, a loaded Glock Model 26 .45 ACP caliber semi-automatic pistol in the car, and two loaded .45 caliber magazines in the center console, the DOJ said.

He admitted to paying a higher price for a Glock pistol at a gun show ($900) to avoid paperwork and get the handgun immediately, the DOJ said. He also admitted that on the day of his arrest he had multiple firearm receivers in various stages of handgun construction, privately made firearm (PMF, or “ghost gun”) jigs, and firearms parts and assorted ammunition, along with the tools necessary to manufacture firearms.

Palmer also had in his garage a Glock pistol frame with its serial number plate removed as well as magazines of standard and high capacity for multiple firearm calibers, the DOJ said. Palmer admitted he also had a loaded P80 .45 caliber Glock-style semi-automatic handgun in the garage.