Massachusetts Man Charged for Allegedly Selling at least 10 Ghost Guns and Ammunition

BOSTON - A Billerica, Mass. man has been arrested and charged with unlawfully dealing firearms without a license and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition after previously being convicted of a felony offense.

Aaron Brown, 46, was charged by criminal complaint with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The defendant will appear in federal court in Worcester later today.

According to the charging documents, from approximately July 2024 through October 2026, Brown allegedly sold numerous privately made firearms, commonly referred to as "ghost guns," as well as ammunition and a suppressor, to an individual working with federal law enforcement.

The investigation began in July 2024, when Brown allegedly sold a privately made short-barreled rifle and ammunition in Tewksbury for approximately $1,500. It is alleged that Brown subsequently conducted a series of additional firearms transactions with the informant in Billerica, Lowell and elsewhere in Massachusetts.

It is further alleged that Brown sold at least 10 privately made firearms, including multiple short-barreled rifles, ammunition, firearm magazines and a suppressor. Several of the firearms allegedly contained components manufactured outside Massachusetts and the ammunition sold by Brown allegedly had traveled in interstate commerce.

According to court documents, during a March 2025 meeting with a cooperating witness, Brown discussed obtaining machinegun conversion device parts and future firearms transactions. When discussing the risks of being apprehended by law enforcement, Brown allegedly stated that if he were caught, "it's going to suck for the officer(s)," and suggested that he would make it appear that he was armed.

Despite allegedly engaging in repeated firearms sales, Brown does not possess a federal firearms license, a Massachusetts license to carry firearms, or a firearms identification card.

Brown is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a prior felony conviction, including a conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Essex Superior Court for which he received a sentence of three to five years in jail.

The charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes governing the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.