PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A Roseville resident has been charged with 20 felonies across Placer and El Dorado counties for allegedly assembling and selling illegal semiautomatic rifles from his garage. The California Attorney General’s Office announced the charges on Tuesday.
Marc Jay Berman, 74, is accused of manufacturing, possessing, and selling rifles classified by the state as illegal “assault weapons,” as well as possessing a firearm suppressor. The investigation began on November 3, when inspectors observed Berman attempting to sell assembled weapons and a suppressor at a gun show in Placerville. A subsequent search of his home on November 12, conducted by state agents and the Roseville Police Department’s SWAT team, uncovered eight assault rifles, additional firearms, gun parts, large-capacity magazines, and ammunition.
Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighted California’s stringent gun laws, noting, “California has some of the strongest gun laws.”
Bonta’s office reported that Berman is not currently in custody. No further information about him has been provided, and no legal representation for Berman was available for comment.
Under California law, assembling gun parts into firearms for sale requires a federal license and the application of a government-approved serial number to the firearm’s frame prior to assembly. Berman allegedly lacked such licensing and failed to comply with serial number regulations.
This case underscores the state’s commitment to enforcing firearm regulations to prevent illegal manufacturing and sales. Authorities encourage residents to report any suspicious firearm activities to local law enforcement agencies.
