Staten Island Man Convicted of Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy and Obstruction of Justice

Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Brandon Nudelman on all three counts of a second superseding indictment charging him with firearms trafficking conspiracy, firearms trafficking, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The charges relate to the defendant's participation in a scheme to manufacture and sell untraceable ghost guns in Staten Island and Pennsylvania. The verdict followed a six-day trial before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. When sentenced, the defendant faces up to 30 years in prison.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division (ATF), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the verdict.

"Brandon Nudelman was the money man behind a ghost gun factory printing lethal weapons in Staten Island," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "The defendant and his co-conspirators manufactured and sold guns and converted machineguns at marked up prices to people who should not have them. Law enforcement then thwarted the defendant's effort to cover up his crimes. Today's verdict is an important victory in our Office's work to hold accountable those who seek to profit from the scourge of 3D-printed guns and underscores the Department of Justice's commitment to reducing gun violence."

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the United States Secret Service and the NYPD Intelligence Division's Major Case Team and Intelligence Analytical Team for their work on the case.

"This conviction shows that individuals who finance and support illegal firearms trafficking will be held accountable. The defendant helped facilitate a dangerous scheme involving privately made firearms and machine gun conversion devices, distributing weapons outside lawful channels," stated ATF New York Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo. "ATF NY remains committed to disrupting illegal firearms trafficking and reducing violent gun crime. Thanks to the collaboration of ATF's Crime Gun Enforcement Team (C-GET), NYPD Intelligence Division's Major Case Intelligence Team, the United States Secret Service New York Field Division's Digital Forensic Laboratory, ATF Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Together, we will continue working to protect the public and keep our communities safe."

"Today's guilty verdict is yet another example of how the NYPD is working to remove dangerous weapons from the hands of criminals and keep communities across New York City safe," stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. "The defendant illegally manufactured and trafficked ghost guns - weapons that are just as dangerous as traditional firearms and only exist to evade law enforcement. NYPD detectives worked tirelessly to investigate and shut this dangerous operation down, and I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney's office and our other partners for their work on this case."

As proven at trial, between approximately January 2023 and September 2023, Brandon Nudelman conspired with others to illegally manufacture and traffic firearms. Co-conspirators Ronnie Mershon, Michael Daddea, and Justin Nudelman, who is the defendant's brother, used so called "Polymer 80" kits and 3D printers and parts sourced from online retailers to assemble privately made and untraceable firearms, commonly called "ghost guns." These 3D-printed firearms included at least nine devices called "auto sears" or "switches" which convert semi-automatic guns into fully automatic weapons and are considered machine guns under federal law. The defendants made the untraceable ghost guns that they assembled available for sale without obtaining a license or otherwise notifying government authorities. On September 7, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Justin Nudelman's residence and recovered multiple homemade firearms, nine switches, 3D printers, and over 100 rounds of ammunition. The evidence at trial included videos showing the defendant and co-conspirators firing weapons equipped with these machinegun conversion devices.

On September 7, 2023, following the search at Justin Nudelman's residence, law enforcement officers sought to seize Justin Nudelman's phone pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant. The defendant conspired with Justin Nudelman to conceal the phone and render its contents inaccessible to law enforcement by deleting messages and cracking the phone in multiple places.

All three of Brandon Nudelman's co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Justin Nudelman pleaded guilty to gun trafficking conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct justice in January 2026. Ronnie Mershon pleaded guilty to gun trafficking conspiracy and unlawfully possessing a machinegun in December 2025. In December 2025, Michael Daddea pleaded guilty to gun trafficking conspiracy.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorney's Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is currently partnering with the SCPD, the NYPD, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATF, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration in its PSN mission.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Section. Trial Attorney Arun Bodapati and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Rackear are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist David Harrison.

The Defendant:

BRANDON NUDELMAN
Age: 33
Staten Island, New York

The Defendants Previously Convicted:

JUSTIN NUDELMAN
Age: 31
Staten Island, New York

RONNIE MERSHON
Age: 28
Staten Island, New York

MICHAEL DADDEA
Age: 30
Tampa, Florida

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-437(S-2) (AMD)