Seven Wisconsin teenagers, including five 16-year-olds, face charges for operating an illegal gun business that sold firearms to local high school students, according to authorities.
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department conducted raids in two Wisconsin counties this week, uncovering the operation run by the seven high school students.
Jacob Ehlert-Abbott, 17, and George Shepherd, 18, were among those arrested, along with five unnamed 16-year-old boys. They face charges including receiving stolen firearms, selling dangerous weapons to minors, possessing weapons under 18, and carrying concealed weapons.
An investigation revealed that the guns were sold to high school students in Kenosha County.
During the raids, officers found several guns, firearm frames without serial numbers (referred to as ghost guns), gun-building kits, magazines for pistols and rifles, gun parts, accessories, and ammunition.
The investigation began in April after a burglary where multiple guns were stolen. Concerns were raised when a woman reported her son driving with a car full of guns. Reports of gunfire in the area further fueled the investigation.
During a traffic stop, police discovered some of the stolen guns from the April burglary. Subsequent searches uncovered more stolen firearms related to the burglary.
All seven teens arrested confessed to manufacturing and selling the guns.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner commended the department’s efforts, stating, “Because of the outstanding work by our KSD Detectives and Deputies as well as all those who assisted throughout this case, countless further crimes involving these illegally manufactured and sold firearms have been prevented. Lives have been saved, and our community is truly safer with this firearm manufacturing and distribution operation shut down.”
