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Mark Ryals, 35, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlicensed dealing in firearms, US Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland Maryland Erek L. Barron said in a joint release.
The investigation began in early July 2021, when authorities learned that Ryals was illegally selling firearms from his Baltimore home.
He was asked the same month by an undercover law enforcement to sell him firearms and subsequently agreed, leading to the sale of two privately manufactured 9mm pistols and a .17 caliber firearm silencer to the undercover officer for $2,250 on July 15, 2021.
Ryals did not have a license to deal or sell firearms and knew that he was banned from owning them due to a final protective order that was served on him on June 30, 2021, Barron said.
Court documents say Barron sold firearms to undercover officers six separate times, resulting in the purchase of 21 additional firearms.
A search warrant executed at Ryals’ home turned up:
- Two privately manufactured 9mm pistols, one of which was equipped with a large capacity magazine;
- A short barreled 12-gauge shotgun with no serial number;
- A .22 caliber firearm;
- 237 rounds of assorted ammunition
- $1,190 in cash, most of which was ATF funds used in the controlled purchases
Officers also found accessories and tools used in the creation of privately manufactured firearms, including a Dremel press with red plastic shavings on it.
Ryals waived his Miranda rights before admitting during an interview with detectives that he had been making and selling firearms.
“This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods ('PSN'), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” said Barron, who credited the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.
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