Police shed light on 3D gun investigation – Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg police have released more information about an investigation that led to a man already serving a prison sentence for making 3D guns pleading guilty to the same offense behind bars.

Blake Ellison-Crate, 26, was convicted on July 16 of one count of manufacturing firearms and one count of trafficking firearms and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was already serving a 12-year sentence for trafficking firearms assembled using a 3D printer.

Winnipeg police held a press conference on Project Gauge on Tuesday, which led to the arrest of Ellison-Crate, his mother and several other people.

The investigation began in November. Police executed search warrants on March 20 at four homes in the 200 block of Dumoulin Street, the 300 block of Parkview Street, the 100 block of Prevette Street and the 600 block of Setter Street. Ellison-Crate was booked into jail on April 19.

Police said Tuesday that as part of Project Gauge, officers seized a 3D-printed Glock-style pistol, 9mm ammunition, a 3D printer and other weapons and knives. The 3D-printed pistol and the 3D printer were found at the home on Setter Street. The home is connected to one of the people charged, 26-year-old Michael Rivers, 26.

Although police seized only one 3D-printed weapon, Detective Inspector Elton Hall of the WPS Organised Crime Squad said investigators believe 30 to 40 of the weapons made by the criminal gang are on the streets.

Earlier this month, the court heard that Ellison-Crate persuaded his mother, Twyla Ellison, and stepfather to deposit thousands of dollars into a bank account he had access to, which he immediately spent on gun parts.

Twyla Ellison was arrested on May 8 and faces weapons charges. Kinew Daniels, 25, and an unnamed 46-year-old man also face weapons charges.

Danielle Deleau, 25, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a felony, while Ashlen Parris, 25, is charged with two counts of the same offense. Parris was arrested May 14 at Headingley Correctional Institution.

[email protected]