Authorities Seize 69 Firearms in Bend Ghost Gun Investigation

BEND, Ore. — Law enforcement officers seized 69 firearms, most of them without serial numbers, while executing a search warrant at a Bend-area home as part of an investigation into the alleged manufacture and sale of untraceable firearms.

Detectives with Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) began investigating reports of a person manufacturing and selling so-called ghost guns in October 2026. Investigators identified the suspect as Eric Keith Testerman, 66, of Bend.

At approximately 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, CODE detectives and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT) executed a search warrant at a residence in the 60000 block of Winnebago Lane in Bend.

During the search, officers seized 69 firearms, the majority of which did not have serial numbers. Investigators also recovered tools used to manufacture unserialized firearms.

Authorities reported that many of the firearms found at the residence were short-barreled rifles and automatic firearms.

Ghost guns are firearms that are typically assembled by individuals or manufactured using 3D-printing technology. Because they often lack serial numbers, they can be difficult to trace and may be made or obtained without the background checks required for many conventional firearm purchases.

Oregon House Bill 2005 prohibits the manufacture, sale or transfer of certain untraceable firearms, including specified unserialized and 3D-printed firearms and unfinished firearm frames and receivers.

Testerman was not present when officers executed the search warrant and is not currently in the area, according to investigators.

The investigation will be presented to a Deschutes County grand jury, which will consider the potential charges of manufacturing, importing, selling or transferring undetectable firearms, as well as unlawful possession of machine guns, certain short-barreled firearms and firearm silencers.

“This case highlights the importance of the CODE team in keeping our community safe through proactive and relentless investigation,” said CODE Team Deputy District Attorney Andrew Doyle.

CODE thanked CERT, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for assisting with the investigation.

CODE is a multi-agency narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. The task force includes local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working to disrupt drug trafficking and other criminal activity across Central Oregon.

Clarify the suspect’s legal statusTighten the ghost gun explanation