U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs | Wikipedia
U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs | Wikipedia
A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison without parole for possessing and transferring machine gun conversion devices. Demetrius Harris, also known as “Meech,” 24, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs.
According to court records, on January 24, 2024, Harris sold an AR-style firearm equipped with an auto sear, two additional auto sears, and ammunition to an undercover agent for $1,060.
Machine gun conversion devices—often called “switches” or “auto sears”—are designed to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of firing multiple shots with a single trigger pull. Federal law classifies these devices as machine guns regardless of whether they are attached to a firearm. It is illegal under federal law to possess, sell, or use such devices.
“This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh,” according to the press release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
The prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local communities. The Department of Justice launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021. The strategy emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it occurs, focusing enforcement efforts strategically, and measuring results.
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