Taunton Man Arrested for Allegedly Making and Selling Ghost Guns

A Taunton man with previous felonies, including an armed robbery conviction, was arrested Thursday for allegedly manufacturing ghost guns and selling them without a license.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, William Viera, 33, was charged with one count of dealing firearms without a license.

Viera does not possess a federal firearms license, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, and is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions. In 2012, he was convicted in Bristol County for armed robbery and sentenced to two to five years in prison.

If convicted on the new charge, Viera faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. He was detained following an initial hearing today and will have a detention hearing on August 22.

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Federal agents identified Viera as an illegal firearms dealer and ghost gun manufacturer – meaning firearms assembled by a person and often without a serial number – earlier this year.

Agents used a cooperating witness in April to make contact with Viera, who the U.S. Attorney’s Office said told the witness he owned a 3D printer which he used to manufacture ghost guns, including a Glock-style gun.

Viera allegedly sold three such guns to the cooperating witness between July 15 and August 8.

He also allegedly made guns from unfinished firearms kits and sold those to others as well.