A federal grand jury has indicted Joe Murray, 35, of Dover for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, according to a July 30 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.
The indictment alleges that Murray possessed a privately made, unserialized Polymer80 9mm semiautomatic handgun—commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”—loaded with a magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition. Officers also reportedly recovered an additional bullet from Murray’s pocket.
Murray faces one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison; however, actual sentences for federal crimes are often less than the maximum penalty. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced the indictment. The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Dover Police Department.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices across all federal districts that aims to address violent crime through partnerships among law enforcement agencies at all levels and accountability through prosecution strategies tailored to specific communities’ needs. PSN is described as serving “a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe,” with principles including rapid response to violent crime, strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies, and deterrence through prosecution.