Marin Man Ensnared In Federal ‘Ghost Gun’ Probe

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A Marin County man was arrested earlier this week in connection with a federal “ghost gun” probe, authorities said.

James William Palmer was arrested and arraigned Wednesday according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The 36-year-old Mill Valley man was charged with one count of unlicensed firearms manufacturing and dealing and with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Palmer was released on bail. His next scheduled court appearance is on Oct. 7.

Palmer was convicted in 2011 for assault with a deadly weapon in San Francisco, The Marin Independent Journal reports, citing an affidavit filed by a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent.

Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

The former Tamalpais High School water polo standout played on UCLA's 2004 NCAA Division I championship team his sophomore year. He scored four goals and had one steal that season.

His UCLA coaches in 2006 selected him as the program's Dr. James Puffer Loyalty and Contribution Award recipient, an honor presented for players who demonstrate a "strong contribution to the UCLA men's water polo program and unmatched loyalty" according to his bio page.

Palmer played four years on the varsity at Tamalpais High and was the team MVP each year.

He was an All-American selection for the Marin Club team and an All-American honorable mention at Tamalpais.

The complaint against Palmer unsealed Thursday alleges he started manufacturing and selling firearms May 2020 through to January 2021.

The case originated from a Marin County Sheriff’s Office “ghost gun” investigation that led to his arrest earlier this year.

In January Palmer was arrested on suspicion of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in connection “with suspected involvement in the illegal manufacturing of weapons to include ‘ghost guns,’ the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement in late June.

“Ghost guns” are manufactured privately, often using D.I.Y. kits sold online with no serial numbers. They are sold without background checks and are untraceable, The New York Times reports.

The investigation began after authorities examined text messages involving Palmer in an unrelated case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Authorities on detained Palmer on Jan. 27 and found him in possession of a Glock semi-automatic .45 caliber pistol and two loaded ammunition clips, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

On the same date, authorities seized multiple items from Palmer’s home related to firearms manufacturing and trafficking, U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

This case follows the DOJ’s launch in five key regions of Cross-Jurisdictional Firearms Trafficking Strike Forces that are focused on disrupting illegal firearms trafficking.

One of the five Strike Forces was launched here, in the San Francisco Greater Bay Area and Sacramento Region.

The Strike Force identifies sources of illegally trafficked firearms and disrupts straw purchasing as well as firearms trafficking networks by collaborating in cross-jurisdictional efforts that include multiple federal agencies and multiple states and their local law enforcement agencies.