PHILADELPHIA (April 11, 2022) — District Attorney Larry Krasner today announced charges against an individual for illegal possession of firearms and a controlled substance. This individual is also suspected of manufacturing specific parts for firearms through the use of a 3D printer and of completing the construction of untraceable ‘ghost guns’ through the online purchasing of parts including slides and barrels.
After agents with the Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) received a tip about these activities, authorities arrested Daniel Whiteman (DOB 08/05/1985) on the morning of April 1, 2022. Whiteman was in the process of printing a Polymer receiver, which essentially houses a firearm’s operational mechanisms, when authorities executed a search warrant at his Roxborough residence. In addition to two partially-assembled firearms found at the scene, authorities believe Whiteman assembled at least four other firearms before his arrest, including Glock-style .9mm and .22 caliber firearms, although those four guns have not yet been recovered. Authorities also found firearm-related supplies, including various ammunition calibers, gun oil, and gun magazines, as well as multiple rolls of 3D printer filament. Police also found what is believed to be two clear packets of heroin/fentanyl at Whiteman’s residence.
Whiteman, who has was convicted of Robbery in Delaware County in 2013, has been charged with three counts of Possession of a Firearm Prohibited (6105) (F2), one count of Deliver Firearm After 48 Hours Elapsed (6111) (M2), and one count of K&I (M).
The proliferation of ghost guns locally and across the country is a serious concern among law enforcement. According to Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) statistics, 95 ghost guns were recovered in 2019. That number climbed to 250 in 2020, followed by 571 in 2021. The amount of confiscated ghost guns by the PPD is expected to climb even further this year as gun violence continues to surge in Philadelphia and nationally. Additionally, President Joe Biden on Monday unveiled new rules that ban so-called ‘buy build shoot’ kits that enable purchasers to assemble an untraceable firearm in 30 minutes or less.
“This frightening case is a clear-cut example of why we need our state legislature to modernize firearm safety laws that reflect the reality of 3D printing technology,” said DA Krasner. “Our communities demand that state legislators in the thrall of the National Rifle Association wake up and start caring about public safety by passing commonsense gun regulation so that we can prevent the next Mr. Whiteman from producing and trafficking guns that jeopardize the lives of families and children.”
“The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Task Force want the public to know that the clear and present danger posed by ghost guns is a matter that we take extremely seriously,” said GVTF Supervisor William Fritze. “We are committed to apprehending and appropriately prosecuting anyone who illegally obtains firearms and intends to use them to commit crimes.”Whiteman is currently in custody awaiting a preliminary hearing that is scheduled before the Hon. Bradley K. Moss on April 18, 2022.
* Photos of Whiteman’s operation in addition to other cases mentioned at today’s press conference are available to the news media upon request. *
CONTACT:Dustin Slaughter, 215-686-8713, [email protected]
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.