Wrentham Man Arrested With 5 Assault Rifles, Bump Stocks, More

WRENTHAM, MA — Police and Homeland Security arrested a Wrentham man at his home, and seized several assault rifles and a handgun, numerous high-capacity magazines, ammunition, bump stocks and other gun parts, and homemade explosive devices Friday.

State Police Special Tactical Operations Team Troopers served the search warrant at 5 May St.. There, troopers arrested Michael R. Roby, 38, and transported him to State Police-Foxboro, where he was booked on numerous criminal offenses.

It's not clear what tipped them off to search the home, but the U.S. postal service was involved and may have noticed a number of components being delivered.

"Quick and clear sharing of information between all agencies resulted in a successful operation with no injuries to police, civilians or the suspect," said Wrentham Police Chief William McGrath."Wrentham Police are pleased we were able to assist with resolving a potentially dangerous situation."

Roby had never had a license to carry a firearm nor a Firearm Identification Card, according to authorities. Police said their investigation suggests that Roby was purchasing components and assembling the weapons in his home. None of the weapons they said they found there had serial numbers. Police found Glock selector switches, considered to be bump stocks – devices that allow a weapon to convert to automatic firing mode – and are prohibited by law.

Police found commercial grade fireworks, of the type and style that could be used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices. The homemade destructive devices were confiscated by the State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, which will dismantle them.

Roby is charged with possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device, unlawful possession of ammunition, using or possessing a silencer, production, possession, transportation or use of explosives or a destructive device and unlawful possession of fireworks.

Among the items seized from Roby's home:

• - Two AR-15 style rifles, stored in an unsecured manner in a bedroom, one of which was loaded with a high-capacity magazine;
• - Three additional AR-15 style rifles located in a safe in a bedroom;
• - A Glock pistol, stored unsecured in a bedroom nightstand and loaded with a high-capacity magazine;
• - An additional high-capacity 9mm magazine located in the nightstand;
• - 19 high-capacity rifle magazines;
• - Assorted ammunition;
• - Two firearms silencers;
• - Two Glock selector switches;
• - Five homemade destructive devices
• Commercial grade fireworks.

“This investigation and warrant execution was a shining example of a multi-agency partnership, and one that removed an arsenal of home-assembled high-capacity weapons from a defendant who was not authorized by law to make or possess them,” said Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.

The arrest came about through a joint investigation between the Massachusetts State Police and Wrentham Police, US Homeland Security Investigations, US Customs and Border Protection, US Postal Inspection Service, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case

“Working together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners is crucial in combating illegal trafficking,” Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office: “This arrest is the result of close collaboration and tireless work by multiple agencies.”