A Suffolk County man is set to be sentenced today in a case that investigators describe as the largest ghost gun bust in the county's history. Daniel Probeck now faces the consequences of an at-home operation that, according to authorities, had turned his residence into a hub for untraceable firearms.
The scale of what was found is striking. Investigators say they recovered 112 illegal guns inside Probeck's home last year, an arsenal of so-called ghost guns that lack the serial numbers used to trace ordinary firearms back to their owners.
It was not just finished weapons that drew the attention of investigators. Inside the home, they also found a dozen 3D printers along with other gun-manufacturing equipment, the kind of setup that allows untraceable firearms to be produced piece by piece outside the regulated supply chain.
Prosecutors say the operation went beyond simply building the weapons. According to them, Probeck sold four guns, including three assault rifles, to an undercover officer while he was already under investigation, a series of transactions that helped build the case against him.
Rather than fight the charges to the end, Probeck later pleaded guilty. The plea moved the case past the question of guilt and left only the matter of punishment to be decided when he appears for sentencing.
That punishment could be severe. Probeck faces up to 25 years in prison, a potential sentence that reflects both the sheer number of weapons involved and the allegation that he was manufacturing and selling them. Today's hearing is set to determine how much time he will ultimately serve.