Illinois Man Who Completed Air Force Officer Training Convicted After 3D-Printed 'Ghost Gun' Workshop Found

A federal jury has convicted 33-year-old Yaroslav Vishnevski of Harrisburg, Illinois, on five federal counts after investigators intercepted suspected firearm parts from China and uncovered an active 3D-printing "ghost gun" workshop at his residence.

Authorities shared photos of apparent 3D printers found inside the home.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois says the jury found Vishnevski guilty of: receipt or possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle; manufacturing a National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon without paying the required special occupational tax; receipt or possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun; receipt or possession of an unregistered silencer; and possession of an Atlas Arms 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun with an obliterated serial number.

Authorities shared photos of guns seized inside the home during a search warrant.

The investigation began on April 22, 2024, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a package from China that allegedly contained two suspected firearm silencers addressed to Vishnevski's home. On May 2, 2024, an undercover Illinois State Police agent delivered the parcel to his front porch and observed him bring it inside. Shortly afterward, officers stopped Vishnevski during a traffic stop while a SWAT team executed a search warrant at his residence.

Officials said a slew of evidence was recovered from inside the home, showing the stash was not possessed legally.

During searches of the house and a camper on the property, federal and state agents described finding a highly active illicit weapons workshop. Court documents report the seizure of three 3D printers and a "Ghost Gunner" desktop CNC milling machine, a device commonly used to finish so-called 80% firearm receivers that lack serial numbers.

Authorities say they recovered a large cache of untraceable parts and weapons, including numerous 3D-printed silencers and frames, multiple privately made short-barreled rifles without serial numbers, an Atlas Arms 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun with an obliterated serial number, and a Glock 19X modified with an aftermarket stock and vertical foregrip. Court filings allege Vishnevski had not registered the weapons or paid the required NFA occupational tax.

U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said: "We staunchly defend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans, while recognizing that machine guns, short-barreled rifles, silencers illegally imported from China, and untraceable ghost guns present obvious dangers. The Department of Justice aggressively enforces criminal laws while protecting the constitutional rights of responsible gun owners."

Reporting indicates Vishnevski is a U.S. citizen who was born in Ukraine and lived there until about age six before immigrating to the United States. He told local media he completed U.S. Air Force officer training, enrolled at Saint Louis University School of Medicine under orders to serve as an Air Force physician, then left the medical program early and transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve.

Following his arrest, Vishnevski said an agent from the Department of Homeland Security questioned him about his views on Ukraine and any ties to Ukrainian citizens. The U.S. Air Force and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment to reporters.