Kenosha County sheriffs dismantle teen-led 'ghost gun' ring

KENOSHA – The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department announced the completion of its investigation into an illegal “ghost gun” manufacturing and distribution operation involving teenagers, which resulted in seven arrests.

Criminal charges against Jacob Ehlert-Abbott, 17, George Shepherd, 18, and five other 16-year-old boys who have not been identified include receiving stolen property (firearm), selling dangerous weapons with intent to a Child, possessing a dangerous weapon (person under 18 years of age) and carrying a concealed weapon.

The sheriff's department said everyone involved in the case confessed to manufacturing and distributing firearms.

“The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department has been and will continue to be proactive in keeping our community safe. Thanks to the exceptional work of our KSD detectives and deputies as well as everyone who assisted throughout this case, countless other crimes involving these illegally manufactured and sold firearms have been prevented. Lives have been saved and our community is truly safer with the closure of this gun manufacturing and distribution operation! » Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner said in a press release.

According to the department, on the morning of Wednesday, May 29, Kenosha County detectives and sheriff's deputies, along with several tactical area response teams, executed five search warrants located in Kenosha and Racine counties . Officers found several firearms, firearm lower frames without serial numbers, commonly referred to as “ghost guns”, several Dremmel parts kits for making firearms, pistol and rifle magazines, manufactured firearm parts, firearm accessories and ammunition.

As the investigation continued, the department discovered these firearms were being sold to high school students throughout Kenosha County.

The investigation began on April 2, 2024, when police responded to a burglary in Paddock Lake during which several firearms were stolen. Then, on May 1, a concerned mother contacted the department and said her son was driving around Kenosha County in a car full of guns. At the same time as this call, many citizens denounced “gunshots” in the Silver Lake area.

A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle in question and several stolen firearms were recovered during the burglary in Paddock Lake. Following the traffic stop, two search warrants were conducted in Paddock Lake and Salem Lakes that night where additional stolen firearms were recovered, all of which were seized during this burglary.

As the investigation continued, the department discovered these “ghost guns” were being sold to high school students throughout Kenosha County.

A preliminary hearing for Shepherd is scheduled for June 14.

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