Numerous Individuals Charged with Illegally Possessing Machineguns in Montgomery, Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In the past two months, a federal grand jury has indicted eleven individuals on charges relating to possession of machineguns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. Each of the alleged offenses occurred in Montgomery, and each of the machineguns at issue was a semiautomatic firearm that had been converted to fully automatic through the installation of a machinegun conversion device.
Machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are installed on firearms and allow the guns to function as a fully automatic weapon, capable of firing up to 20 rounds per second. These devices have grown in popularity over the past few years and, due to their rapid rate of fire, pose a significant threat to communities and law enforcement. The possession of a machinegun, which, under the relevant federal statute, includes the possession of a conversion device alone, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. Critical federal PSN partners include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Montgomery Police Department and the ATF investigated these cases, with assistance from the USMS. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon W. Bates, Eric M. Counts, Joel Feil, John J. Geer, III and Justin L. Jones are prosecuting the cases.
More information on the recent indictments can be found in the table below.
|
DEFENDANT NAME |
DEFENDANT AGE |
INDICTMENT DATE |
CHARGE(S) |
DATE(S) OF ALLEGED OFFENSE(S)
|
|
Shykeem Kartarell Grant |
21 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun; felon in possession of a firearm; and tampering with a witness by intimidation or threats |
November 2, 2023 (firearm offenses); and October 26, 2023 (witness tampering offense) |
|
Quadarius Deandre Lindsey |
30 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun; and felon in possession of a firearm |
May 29, 2023 |
|
Deandre Nyquan Lucas |
20 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun |
August 18, 2023 |
|
Clarence Anthony McCall |
20 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun (two counts) |
August 18, 2023 (first count); October 30, 2023 (second count) |
|
Vandarius Jamal Parks |
21 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun |
July 25, 2023 |
|
Tavius Smith |
23 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun |
May 6, 2023 |
|
My’qurious Xavier Solomon |
19 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun; and tampering with a witness by intimidation and threats |
October 25, 2023 (firearm offense); and October 31, 2023 (witness tampering offense) |
|
Dequarius Dewayne Thornton |
26 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun; and illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment |
September 3, 2023 |
|
Cammeron Leroy Youngblood |
23 |
November 29, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun; and illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment |
August 23, 2023 |
|
Keonte Martin |
20 |
October 31, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun |
October 5, 2023 |
|
Jaxon Smith |
19 |
October 31, 2023 |
Possession of a machinegun |
October 25, 2023 |
As previously stated, the possession of a machinegun, or the possession of a conversion device alone, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The maximum sentences for the various other charges are: up to 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense; up to 5 years in prison for illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment; and up to 20 years in prison for tampering with a witness by intimidation and threats.
Trials for Martin and Jaxon Smith are currently scheduled for Jan. 8, 2024. Trial dates for the defendants indicted on Nov. 29 will be scheduled early next year.
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