SAN JOSE — In a discovery that highlights the growing intersection of consumer technology and illicit arms manufacturing, an 18-year-old San Jose man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities uncovered an extensive “ghost gun” factory operating inside his family home. The arrest of Jacob Reyes, announced by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office on February 26, 2026, revealed an arsenal of untraceable firearms manufactured just feet away from his sneaker collection.
Following an investigation by the DA’s Gun Violence Task Force and the San Jose Police Department’s GHOST unit, tactical teams executed a search warrant at Reyes’ Peach Court residence. Inside the teen’s bedroom, investigators found two active 3D printers and a cache of 27 finished or nearly-finished firearms.
The Anatomy of a High-Tech Crime
The seizure underscores the alarming ease with which “ghost guns”—firearms without serial numbers that bypass background checks—are being produced by minors and young adults.
- The Cache: Of the weapons seized, nearly all were 3D-printed. Most concerning to authorities were several firearms modified with “auto sears,” 3D-printed components that convert standard semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic machine guns.
- The Operation: Investigators found the 3D printers alongside stockpiles of plastic filament, firearm precursor parts, and significant quantities of ammunition.
- The Charges: Reyes was arraigned Thursday at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. He faces multiple felony counts, including unlicensed manufacturing of firearms and possession of an assault weapon, as well as specialized charges related to the illegal machine gun conversions.
A “Thriving Black Market”
“There is a black market of weapons thriving right under our noses,” stated District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “Once again, our investigators have taken an arsenal of untraceable, illegal, and deadly weapons off the streets before they could be used in a tragedy.”
The case arrives as California intensifies its legal battle against the ghost gun industry. Earlier this month, the State Attorney General filed a landmark lawsuit against several websites that distribute the digital blueprints used for 3D printing these weapons, alleging they promote a “public safety crisis” by allowing prohibited persons to “skip the background check.”
The Regulatory Challenge
The Reyes case highlights a critical gap in current enforcement: the accessibility of “unserialized” parts. While California law now bans the sale of un-serialized “80% lowers,” the ability to print a functional frame at home for less than $200 remains a potent challenge for local law enforcement.
As of late February 2026, the Santa Clara County Gun Violence Task Force has recovered over 400 illegal firearms since the start of 2024, with ghost guns now making up nearly 30% of all weapons seized from prohibited individuals in the South Bay.
