Ex-guardsman facing multiple ‘ghost gun’ charges
A former National Guardsman who had previously been charged with making terroristic threats toward a Columbus Jewish school is now facing federal charges for making and selling untraceable “ghost” guns.
Thomas Develin, 24, who previously lived on Columbus’ Far North Side, appeared in U.S. District Court on Wednesday afternoon. He is facing five federal charges, including illegal possession of a machine gun and engaging in business without a license.
He is being held in custody, pending a detention hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Columbus, Develin was initially arrested in March after making threats on an online social media platform regarding the Columbus Torah Academy, where he worked as a security guard.
Following his arrest, federal agents searched Develin’s apartment and vehicle and found more than 25 firearms. Prosecutors are alleging that Develin was creating so-called ghost guns, which are firearms made weapons in whole or in part with a 3D printer. These weapons do not have serial numbers and are virtually untraceable.
Develin is also accused of possessing homemade conversion devices that would transform an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and Glock-type pistols into fully automatic machine guns. Develin reportedly told investigators that he began making ghost guns in 2020 and intended to sell them for profit, which is a violation of the National Firearms Act.
A forensics search of Develin’s laptop revealed at least 87 searches for the terrorist attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, and according to court records, Develin posted photographs on social media in December of a modified Ar-15-style rifle that mimicked the firearm used in that shooting.
Develin, who is a former member of the Ohio National Guard, also made a number of anti-semitic and violent posts on social media, primarily on Snapchat and Discord.
On March 15, Develin posted in a Discord group chat that included other members of the Ohio National Guard that “if the military actually decides to ever crack down on extremists, they’re going to have to kick at least half of us out,” according to court records.
Other findings, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office, included a photograph posted in September where Develin posted an image of the school where he worked and said: “Having an inner debate that if an active shooter comes in I might just join him.”
Other statements allegedly made on social media by Develin include:
● In November, Develin allegedly posted a video in which he was sniffing a rifle and said: “This one smells like dead Jews.”
● In January, Develin is accused of posting a photograph of a synagogue in New Albany with the text: “The holocaust (sic) didn’t happen” and “If anything I’ll scream 6 million wasn’t enough.”
● A post in February of a meme that read “Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was my sexual assault record”
● A second meme reading “If your enemy is a female soldier you must rape her.”
● A post on Feb. 8 that he was “so radicalized against women” that he did not know “how to act rationally around them when one of them decides it’s a good idea” to talk to him.
● A post on Feb. 5 in which Develin said “we’re about to hunt some (racial epithet) on night patrol in Columbus.
● Develin also posted about “selling machine guns to felons and gangbangers.”
Federal authorities said Develin used the alias “Patrick Bateman” online, using the name of the narrator of “American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis.
Develin also allegedly posted online about committing terrorist attacks at John Glenn Columbus International Airport and at the Budweiser manufacturing plant, as well as killing a Morgan County Sheriff’s office deputy and that deputy’s family.
Additional allegations in the 48-page affidavit in support of the federal charges, which was unsealed on Wednesday, include allegations that Develin posted videos of himself pointing a firearm at a law enforcement vehicle.
Develin is also accused of going to a home in Chesterhill, Ohio, located in Morgan County, and hiding or destroying multiple pieces of evidence, including ghost guns, parts of firearms and a bump stock, a device that allows more rounds of ammunition to be fired than on a traditional firearm.
“It’s all the same charge after the first felony,” Develin reportedly posted.
A second man, James Meade, 26, of Chesterhill, is also facing charges in Franklin County Common Pleas Court for threats made against the Budweiser manufacturing plant.
Meade’s address is listed in court records as being the address where Develin reportedly hid and destroyed evidence.
The charges pending against Develin in Franklin County Common Pleas Court still remain and are not replaced by the federal charges.
Develin had previously posted $200,000 in bond for the Franklin County case and had been living in Waverly. He was arrested by federal authorities in advance of his Wednesday court appearance.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Jewishcolumbus said they were grateful for the U.S. Department of Justice for monitoring Develin’s activity.
“Securing our community is the top priority at Jewishcolumbus and we will continue, in partnership with CTA, to advocate the concerns of our community to the court system,” the statement said. “Jewishcolumbus and CTA has been closely following Develin’s case in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and were disappointed when he had been granted (bond). We feel Develin is a threat to our community and hope with these new charges he will remain locked up until his day in court.”
bbruner@dispatch.com