A Kewanee man was arrested and charged with 3-D printing gun parts following an investigation into the production and sale of non-serialized firearm devices. The Kewanee Police Department assisted the Black Hawk Area Task Force in executing a search warrant on a residence in the 1200 block of Roseview Avenue on January 22, 2025. The resident, Bobby Charlet, 24, was arrested, and numerous 3-D-printed firearm devices, a silencer, 3-D printing equipment, a computer, and a large amount of ammunition were found during the search. The Henry County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Bobby Charlet on January 23rd with multiple charges, including gunrunning and unlawful possession of weapons, with some charges carrying a potential 15-year sentence.
Bobby Charlet is charged with Gunrunning (Class 1 Felony), Ten (10) Counts of Serialization of Unfinished Frames or Receivers; Prohibition on Un-Serialized Firearms (Class A Misdemeanor), Possession of Silencer (Class 3 Felony), Three (3) Counts of Unlawful Sale or Delivery of Firearms (Class 4 Felony),
Mr. Charlet appeared before Judge Cosby Thursday afternoon for a first appearance on the charges and a detention hearing. The state filed a Petition to Deny Pretrial Release, ultimately denied following a lengthy discussion and research into the definition of a firearm and if 3-D-printed receivers qualify. Find more detailed information from the hearing below. Charlet was released on Thursday with strict restrictions. Mr. Charlet must surrender his FOID card and any firearms; he is not to possess a 3-D printer, materials used for 3-D printing firearm devices, or any computers. He is subject to the standard pretrial release conditions as well. A Preliminary Hearing is scheduled for January 27, 2025, at 1 PM in the old large courtroom (Court Room 1).
Public Defender Lance Camp was appointed as counsel for the detention hearing. Attorney Jonathan Ruud advised the court that Mr. Charlet’s family intends to hire him but he hasn’t been officially retained, and Bobby Charlet agreed. Attorney Camp proffered to the court that the police have the defendant’s 3-D printer, and they believe the police have all the 3-D printed parts, but if there are any remaining in the residence, the defendant will gladly turn them over to the police. State’s Attorney Runty counted that technology is advancing and the defendant could easily buy a new printer and the materials used to make the parts. She referenced the admission by the defendant from the State’s petition. State’s Attorney Runty said the defendant has a FOID card, but he is not a firearms dealer.
Attorney Camp presented printouts of sample 3-D printed firearm parts from a Google search and the legal definition of a firearm. The legal definition of a firearm in Illinois is: A firearm refers to any device or machine designed to expel a projectile from the action of an explosion, or by the expansion of gas or the escape of gas. Attorney Camp countered that these are not firearms; they are receivers. He said the receiver is not a device that is intended to projectile a device. “This is a piece of a firearm.” “We have a lack of criminality,” regarding the defendant’s criminal history.
Judge Cosby said that Mr. Camp presents a valid point about the receivers being parts of a firearm and not a firearm under the legal definition, but the term device is given flexibility. He said that a receiver is an integral part of a gun. “The court understands that it is not a complete gun.”
Judge Cosby found probable cause Thursday for the arrest without a warrant. After extensive research, Judge Cosby found that the state had not met its burden to deny pretrial release. Judge Cosby found there was a threat to the community, and no conditions could mitigate that threat, but the state did not meet the burden of proof for articulable facts for the case. Judge Cosby informed the defendant that any violation of the pretrial release conditions would result in the defendant’s detention pending resolution of the case.
According to court documents, on January 22nd, agents with the Black Hawk Area Task Force executed a search warrant at 12?? Roseview Avenue. Previously, agents had performed controlled purchases from the resident, Bobby Charlet, of non-serialized firearm frames and had arranged the purchase of another 3-D printed lower firearm receiver. On entering the residence, officers found a 3-D printed lower pistol frame on the kitchen counter on top of a letter from the Department of Treasury addressed to Bobby Charlet. In Bobby Charlet’s bedroom, officers located a fully assembled non-serialized semi-automatic .223 caliber rifle with a silencer attached. In a safe in his bedroom closet, officers located a fully assembled non-serialized semi-automatic 9mm MP5, and an additional non-serialized AR lower frame. Additional non-serialized frames and lowers were found throughout the house. After being Mirandized, Bobby Charlet confirmed his Snapchat account and admitted he sold his friend some stuff and knew about the firearms in the residence before asking for a lawyer.
"Frame or receiver" means a part of a firearm that, when the complete weapon is assembled, is visible from the exterior and provides housing or a structure designed to hold or integrate one or more fire control components, even if pins or other attachments are required to connect those components to the housing or structure. For models of firearms in which multiple parts provide such housing or structure, the part or parts that the Director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has determined are a frame or receiver constitute the frame or receiver. For purposes of this definition, "fire control component" means a component necessary for the firearm to initiate, complete, or continue the firing sequence, including any of the following: hammer, bolt, bolt carrier, breechblock, cylinder, trigger mechanism, firing pin, striker, or slide rails.
