BOSTON — On Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, federal prosecutors announced the arrest of a Billerica man accused of selling at least 10 privately made firearms, commonly known as ghost guns, to an informant working with federal investigators.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Aaron Brown, 46, of Billerica, was charged by criminal complaint with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. He was scheduled to appear in federal court in Worcester on Friday.
The investigation began in July 2024, when Brown allegedly sold a privately made short-barreled rifle and ammunition for about $1,500 in Tewksbury. Prosecutors say he made additional sales to the informant in Billerica, Lowell and elsewhere in Massachusetts through October 2026.
The alleged sales included at least 10 privately made fireatms, including multiple short-barreled rifles, ammunition, magazines and a suppressor. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts reported that several of the guns contained parts manufactured outside of Massachusetts and that the ammunition Brown sold had crossed state lines.
According to court documents, during a meeting in March 2025 with a cooperating witness, Brown discussed obtaining machinegun conversion device parts as well as future firearms transactions. When discussing what might happen if he were caught, Brown allegedly said “it’s going to suck for the officer(s)” and suggested he would make it appear he was armed.
Federal prosecutors say that, at the time, Brown didn’t have a federal firearms license, a Massachusetts license to carry or a firearms identification card. He was also prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Essex Superior Court, for which he received a three-to-five-year prison sentence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said the charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license is punishable by up to five years in prison. Each charge is also punishable by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the charges with Thomas A. Greco, the special agent in charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Billerica Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assisted with the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
