LA HABRA >> A federal grand jury indicted a La Habra businessman Thursday on charges of illegally manufacturing and selling AR-15 style rifle parts, as well as completed firearms, authorities said.
ROHG Industries owner Joseph Roh, 46, of Fullerton agreed to turn himself in to authorities Friday, U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement. He was scheduled to be arraigned Friday in federal court in Los Angeles.
Roh is accused of making and selling hundreds of lower receivers for AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles, Mrozek said. A lower receiver is the primary component of the rifle, containing the trigger and hammer.
“In addition to the lower receivers, the indictment alleges that Roh illegally sold complete rifles and pistols,” Mrozek said.
Roh was not licensed to manufacture or sell guns, officials added.
Starting with an incomplete lower receiver, Roh and his employees would complete the firearm part using machining tools.
“Roh attempted to avoid the licensing requirements by requiring that each customer play a token role in the manufacturing process, which often meant merely pushing a button on a (milling) machine, while company employees did the vast majority of the work,” Mrozek said.
While the manufacture and sale of incomplete lower receivers is not legally regulated, the manufacture and sale of complete lower receivers is, and requires proper licensing, Mrozek explained.
Only the lower receiver of an AR-15 rifle must be serialized and registered as a firearm under state and federal law.
In some cases, at the request of customers, Roh would complete the assembly of the guns, adding an upper receiver, barrel and all other necessary components, according to the DOJ.
If convicted as charged, Roh faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.