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Columbus man sentenced for selling ghost guns, making threats toward Jewish school

Thomas Develin was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for creating and selling the ghost guns.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former Ohio National Guard member from Columbus was sentenced to prison Tuesday in two separate cases involving ghosts guns and making terroristic threats toward a Jewish school.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio said 25-year-old Thomas Develin was given 71 months and six years of supervised release in federal court for making and selling ghost guns, which are untraceable homemade weapons made in whole or in part with a 3D printer.

Develin admitted in his plea agreement that he created the weapons to sell for profit knowing they were illegal.

He also made and possessed homemade conversion devices to convert semi-automatic AR-15 rifles and Glock-type pistols into fully automatic machine guns.

Court documents state Develin advertised online that he possessed and was selling 3D-printed sears, which are devices designed to convert semiautomatic AR-type rifles into fully automatic rifles.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said devices that are intended to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic firearms are considered “machineguns” under federal law.

Other messages on Develin’s phone stated that he had manufactured the two-handed firearm with an overall length under 26 inches, which is illegal.

Develin was initially arrested on March 31, 2022, for making terroristic threats after anti-Semitic statements and photos were found posted by him on social media.

Court documents say Develin posted photos of himself posing with a semi-automatic handgun on March 11 while he was working as a private security guard for Columbus Torah Academy.

According to the court documents, Develin posted statements that said, "I'm at a Jewish school and about to make it everyone's problem," and "The playground is about to turn into a self-defense situation."

Court documents also state Develin posted comments saying he "wanted to shoot parents coming to pick up their children."

When Develin was arrested, agents discovered night vision goggles, ballistic plates, a ballistic helmet, first aid equipment and a large quantity of ammunition including several loaded magazines in his vehicle.

Agents discovered more than 25 firearms in his residence and vehicle as well as two IED manuals while executing search warrants.

Develin admitted in his plea that he knew law enforcement may be coming for him, so he went to the property surrounding a cabin of a person he knew to hide and burn illegal firearms parts.

In text messages with another person, Develin also discussed hiding and destroying evidence. He admitted he took these acts with the intent to obstruct the investigation.

Additionally, Develin was sentenced to six years in state prison  for various crimes, including for the threats. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said his state sentence will run concurrent to his federal term.

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