Somerville man pleads guilty to possessing hundreds of ghost guns

On August 13, 2026, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

~Photo courtesy of Somerville Police Dept.

Chief Benford is pleased to recognize our Somerville Police officers who worked with federal and regional partners to remove more than 100 dangerous ghost guns from our community.

During a search of a Somerville residence in August 2025, law enforcement located and seized this horde of privately made firearms (PMFs), more commonly known as 3D-printed “ghost guns,” including machine guns and firearm silencers, as well as a 3D printer and ammunition in varying calibers (see photo). The suspect was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in August 2025, indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025, and convicted upon a guilty plea this month (August 2026).

From Chief Benford: “This conviction is the result of a diligent, thorough investigation by everyone involved and demonstrates the outstanding impact of agencies working together to prevent crimes. The ghost guns that were seized presented an unquestionable risk to the safety of our community, and we are proud to have helped ensure they are no longer available to cause harm.”

-Somerville Police Dept.

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Full details are released below from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts

August 6, 2026

Defendant has prior convictions for assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, drug offenses and wanton destruction of property

A Somerville, Mass. man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The defendant possessed more than 100 privately made firearms (PMFs), more commonly known as, “ghost guns,” at his residence – including machine guns and firearm silencers, as well as a 3D printer and ammunition in varying calibers.

Robert Butland, 39, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton who scheduled sentencing for Nov. 10, 2026. Butland was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in August 2025 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. The defendant remains in federal custody.

During an August 2025 search of Butland’s residence, a locked closet inside his bedroom was found to contain numerous PMFs as well as numerous solvent traps commonly used as illegal firearm suppressors. Additional ghost guns were found in nightstands, backpacks and coffee table drawers throughout the bedroom. Multiple 3D printers, firearm parts and accessories purchased from companies across the country, filament, a workbench and tools consistent with the assembly and manufacture of firearms were also recovered from the residence. Ammunition in multiple calibers – including 9mm Luger, 5.56 Hornady Frontier and 7.62x39mm rounds – were also seized.

Butland is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior state convictions in Lawrence District Court for assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and wanton destruction of property. According to court document’s Butland also has state convictions for negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a Class B controlled substance and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The charge of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Somerville Police Department; the Boston Police Department; and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.