NEWNAN, Ga. – Richard Eric Greeson has been sentenced to federal prison for manufacturing and selling unserialized and untraceable rifles, commonly referred to as “ghost guns,” and possessing methamphetamine.

“Greeson threatened the safety of our community by illegally possessing, manufacturing, and selling illegal firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “This joint investigative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers helped achieve Greeson’s prosecution and conviction, which makes our community safer.”

“Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for the illegal possession, manufacturing, and selling of firearms,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones.  “ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice.”

“The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is thankful for our strong partnership with the ATF and is proud that our Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) unit played a key role in assisting with the investigation and safely apprehending Mr. Greeson. This collaboration has led to the removal of dangerous drugs and illegal firearms from the streets of Carroll County, helping to make our community safer.”

          According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2008, Richard Eric Greeson received a state court sentence of imprisonment followed by 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated child molestation, and six counts of child molestation, involving a six-year-old girl.  In September 2022, Greeson’s probation officer learned Greeson was allegedly manufacturing firearms at his home in Carroll County, Georgia.

          During a subsequent search of Gresson’s truck, his probation officer discovered firearm trigger components, cleaning parts, and ammunition.  The probation officer also found evidence that Greeson had ordered gun parts from vendors on the internet.  Law enforcement then searched Greeson’s home and discovered a firearms workshop in one of his bedrooms.  The investigators recovered an industrial drill, a jig, and a partially milled firearm receiver in the home.  In addition, buried in a wooded area behind Greeson’s home, the officers uncovered a gun case containing a fully assembled, unserialized semiautomatic rifle, a milled out lower AR receiver, more than 400 rounds of ammunition, and eight high-capacity magazines.

          On December 12, 2023, a grand jury indicted Greeson for violating federal firearms laws.  Two days later, during a traffic stop, special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Greeson with the assistance of local law enforcement officers.  During the arrest, officers seized a bag of methamphetamine, a small quantity of marijuana, and two glass pipes from inside Greeson’s truck.

          Richard Eric Greeson, 47, of Carrollton, Georgia, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Greeson was convicted of engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing firearms without a license and possession of methamphetamine, after he pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Carrollton Police Department.

          Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.