North County Man Pleads Guilty To Ghost Gun Manufacturing, Drugs

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — A convicted felon from Orange County will spend 180 months in federal prison for a federal narcotics and firearms conviction, officials say. Tyler Jacob "Jake" Conklin, 31, was found guilty of possessing five privately made firearms without serial numbers, aka “ghost guns.”

Conklin, a Huntington Beach resident, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge James V. Selna.

He pleaded guilty in July 2020 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Conklin was initially arrested following a traffic stop on an outstanding warrant in August 2019 for violating the terms of his Post-Release Community Supervision in relation to multiple drug dealing convictions from O.C. Superior Court dating back from August 2018.

When arrested, Conklin was wearing an empty firearm holster with a Glock-style privately made firearm (ghost gun) under the passenger seat where he was seated, according to court records. The firearm had a round in the chamber and the magazine had seven additional rounds. Two additional magazines with seven rounds each were also found under the passenger seat.

• One Glock-style, .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol bearing no serial number.
• One SIG SAUER-style firearm, 9 mm semi-automatic, subcompact pistol bearing no serial number.
• Two Glock-style, 9 mm semi-automatic pistols, bearing no serial number.
• A Glock-style frame with rear rail system and locking block rail system installed.
• Glock-style slide.
• Three Glock-style barrels.
• Jig and bits used to complete a SIG SAUER-style frame.
• SIG SAUER-style barrel.
• Springs and base plates for Glock-style magazines.
• Fire control and other internal components for Glock-style and SIG SAUER-style pistols.
• Five large-capacity magazines with capacities ranging from 17 to 33 rounds of ammunition.

Also seized at Conklin’s residence were various drugs including nine baggies totaling 189 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, empty baggies, syringes, glass pipes, and a ledger with pay-owe entries next to a list of firearm components consistent with those used to make private firearms. Conklin admitted in his plea agreement to possessing five privately made firearms without serial numbers.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fountain Valley Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Bradley E. Marrett of the Santa Ana Branch Office prosecuted this case.

ATF recognizes the role privately made firearms play in violent crimes. ATF’s mission is to target armed violent offenders and career criminals, firearms traffickers, violent gang activity, and domestic and international arms traffickers. ATF investigates and recommends prosecution of these offenders to reduce the level of violent crime and to enhance public safety. ATF also strives to increase state and local awareness of available federal prosecution under federal statutes.

To learn more about ATF Los Angeles Field Division follow us on Twitter @LosAngelesATF.