Teenager jailed for 3D-printed gun component

A teenager has been incarcerated for fabricating a firearm component with a 3D printer. Owain Roberts, 19, residing on St Michael’s Street in Newport, was identified as a member of a messaging group named “domestic terrorism” and disseminated anti-Semitic content online, according to proceedings at Cardiff Crown Court. Although Roberts was 17 years old at the time of the offense, communications dating up to March 2024 indicated his intention to complete the firearm. Roberts admitted guilt to the charge of manufacturing a weapon component—specifically, a frame for an FGC9 semi-automatic pistol—and received a sentence of four years and nine months to be served in a young offenders institution. Law enforcement officers additionally discovered gas masks, body armor, and night vision goggles within his Newport bedroom, which featured a poster of JStark, recognized as the creator of the first printed firearm. The frame produced by Roberts via 3D printing constitutes the external structure of the weapon, designed to house its other components. An FGC9 is a firearm produced using 3D printing technology, which the court was informed was “deliberately designed to circumvent firearms laws through the use of non-regulated parts.” Rebecca Griffiths, representing the prosecution, informed the court that police conducted a search of Roberts’ residence in April, following his identification as a subject in an investigation by serious organized crime officers. At his father’s Newport home, officers confiscated a 3D printer, an FGC9 frame, steel barrels, and a gun magazine—the component responsible for storing and feeding ammunition. Roberts communicated on Discord, a platform utilized by gamers, under the profile name Strelok, which the court was informed translates to “gun slinger” in Russian. Portions of the messages, which contained allusions to Adolf Hitler and expressed a desire to harm Jewish people and Muslims, were presented to the court. A subsequent search of Roberts’ bedroom revealed bullets, knives, target posters, and an American revolutionary flag, specifically the Gadsden flag, emblazoned with the phrase ‘Don’t tread on me’. This particular flag was observed during the US Capitol Riots in 2021. A firearms expert testified to the court that the weapon was “reliable and lethal.” It was disclosed in court that Roberts had participated in basic military training in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, where marksmanship constituted a part of his instruction before he withdrew after five months. In police interviews, Roberts characterized the messages he sent as “lads’ banter” and referred to the group name “domestic terrorism” as a “dark joke and in bad taste.” He asserted that his intention for the gun was solely for display purposes and that he used the night vision goggles “to look at the stars.” Peter Donnison, representing the defense, stated that Roberts identified as a “nerd” with an interest in puzzles and the mechanical operation of objects. Donnison added that Roberts expressed being “genuinely remorseful” and ashamed of his behavior, especially regarding his online comments. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke noted that she considered Roberts’ age and immaturity, but deemed his perspectives and engagement with military activities to be pertinent. Roberts is scheduled to serve half of his sentence in custody prior to being eligible for release consideration.