Brooklyn resident and software engineer Dexter Taylor was sentenced to ten years in prison on Monday for charges related to firearms he built from “ghost gun kits,” as reported by NBC New York. In April, Taylor was convicted on 13 counts, all related to firearms he made in his gunsmithing hobby. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the charges against Taylor on April 22, 2022.
During the trial, the prosecution portrayed Taylor as a dangerous individual building dangerous firearms in his basement. The jury found Taylor guilty on 13 weapons charges, including criminal possession of weapons, firearms, and ammunition. Taylor’s defense attorney appealed to the Second Amendment on his behalf, but the judge allegedly dismissed it, claiming it doesn’t apply in the state of New York.
The proliferation of “ghost guns” in communities was highlighted by the prosecution and seen as a major factor contributing to violence. The case against Taylor underscored the dangers of untraceable firearms and the need for stricter regulations.