Montrose man sentenced to nine years in ‘ghost gun’ case

On Tuesday, April 23, Dustin Showers, 34, of Montrose, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision in connection with his previous guilty plea in Orange County Court to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced. Showers pled guilty in 2022 but failed to return to court for sentencing, resulting in the issuance of a bench warrant. He was eventually returned to court on the warrant in April 2024.

Hoovler’s announcement noted that, due to Showers’ “failure to abide by the plea promises made to the court by absconding for a year and a half,” his office recommended a 15-year sentence, which is the maximum sentence permitted.

According to court filings, the Port Jervis Police Department conducted an investigation in conjunction with the Orange County Drug Task Force and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which alleged that Showers was both making and selling to others untraceable AR-15-style ghost guns that contained no serial numbers. At the plea proceedings, Showers admitted that on September 2, 2021, at a location in the town of Minisink, NY, he illegally possessed a loaded assault weapon.

Hoovler thanked the Port Jervis Police Department, the Orange County Drug Task Force and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation. Hoovler also thanked the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center for their assistance.

“Untraceable ghost guns pose a significant danger in the hands of bad actors,” said Hoovler. “Where, as here, these guns are not only illegally possessed but also sold into the hands of others with unknown intentions, it is incumbent on law enforcement to disrupt their actions before tragedy strikes. To be clear, police and prosecutors respect and honor those who lawfully possess guns. On the other hand, those who subvert gun laws and put illegal weapons into the hands of other criminals without any regard must be held accountable. Offenders should also know that despite changes in bail laws in New York State, failing to return to court and to abide by promises made at the time of the plea will result in appropriately enhanced sentences.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Neal Eriksen.