JOHNSTOWN, PA — Wayne Farabaugh, 55, a resident of New Paris, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to deal and manufacture firearms without a license. The plea, announced on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, by United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan, follows earlier guilty pleas from his two co-defendants on charges of possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of firearms, among other offenses.
Co-defendants Craig Zahradnik, 52, of Altoona, and Harry Miller, 47, of Martinsburg, each pleaded guilty to seven counts before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines in December and October of 2023, respectively. Sentencing for Zahradnik is scheduled for April 10, 2024, while Miller’s sentencing is slated for March 11, 2024.
According to their guilty pleas, Farabaugh, Zahradnik, and Miller admitted to being part of a conspiracy to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing unlicensed firearms between May 2022 and April 2023. Specifically, Miller and Zahradnik operated an illicit operation dealing with privately made firearms—termed ghost guns—with Miller purchasing components and storing many of the weapons at a unit controlled by Zahradnik, a retired police detective.
In a twist of events, Zahradnik provided $5,000 payments to Miller that were deposited into Miller’s bank account, totaling $30,000. These funds were used to purchase firearm components from outside Pennsylvania. The proceeds from the gun sales, including what Miller marketed as “hit kits”—a package containing a 9-millimeter Polymer80 handgun with no serial number, a silencer, subsonic ammunition, and latex gloves—were used to repay Zahradnik.
Farabaugh admitted to assisting Miller and allowing him to use machinery at his workplace to drill components for ghost guns. This equipment was also used to manufacture untraceable weapons that were required to be registered under the National Firearms Act.
Zahradnik further admitted to transferring a firearm and ammunition to Miller, knowing that Miller intended to sell or transfer them in furtherance of a felony. Both Zahradnik and Farabaugh confessed to knowing that Miller, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Farabaugh’s sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2024, with a maximum sentence of five years. Zahradnik and Miller each face a maximum total sentence of 70 years in prison, a fine of $1.27 million, or both.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation culminating in these prosecutions, with Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuting the case.
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