May 26, 2022 -Springfield-  Joshua Buffum, 38, of Springfield, has been arrested after an investigation by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s SAFE Task Force discovered he was building AR-15s in his home on Hancock Street in Springfield.

Hampden District Attorney Gulluni stated, “Ghost guns, or self-manufactured firearms that are fully functional and untraceable, are gaining prominence with violent criminals and gun traffickers. This arrest highlights the significant public safety threat these weapons create, when someone can be manufacturing high capacity military style assault rifles from their living room right in the middle of Springfield.” DA Gulluni went on the say, “ I would like to thank the various members of law enforcement involved in this investigation for safely identifying this operation and shutting it down without incident.”     

On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at approximately 12:30 p.m., members of Hampden District Attorney Gulluni’s Strategic Action and Focused Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, Hampden County Narcotics Task Force (HCNTF), and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, (SPDU), assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, and the Massachusetts State Police STOP team, executed a search warrant at 501 Hancock Street and arrested Joshua Buffum on the following charges: possession of a firearm without a license, (3 Counts), possession of a large capacity feeding device, (12 Counts), and possession of ammunition without a license.

Over the past couple of weeks, law enforcement developed intelligence that Buffum was building AR-15’s at his residence and was in possession of three additional handguns. After executing the search warrant, officers discovered a makeshift workstation equipped with a 3-D printer and various tools and machinery used to build and manufacture firearms. An AR-15 rifle, 9MM handgun, .380 Handgun, 12 extended magazines and various ammunition were recovered. There were also three additional AR-15’s located which were in the process of being built.

None of the functioning firearms had serial numbers, and are untraceable to law enforcement.  

It is believed replica Glock switches were being made on the 3D printer. These switches are easily installed and can turn a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm.

Joshua Buffum was arraigned yesterday in Springfield District Court, his cash bail was set at $2,500, The Commonwealth requested $25,000, with the conditions he not possess any firearms or parts of firearms. His next scheduled court date is on June 23, 2022.