A North Carolina man has been sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possessing a machinegun.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced the sentence Wednesday, along with Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims of the ATF and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
According to court documents, Durell Smith, 22, of Charlotte, was observed by CMPD officers on February 10, 2023, parking a vehicle with a fictitious tag. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers discovered a stolen Glock 17 handgun with a machinegun conversion device (a “Glock switch”) and a 30-round magazine.
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A second machinegun, a Glock 33 with a Glock switch, was also found in the car. Court records further revealed Smith had previously posted photos online posing with the firearm with the painted skulls.
Smith was later arrested at the same residence several months after the initial seizure. A search warrant executed on the property led to the recovery of several more stolen firearms.
Smith pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun on April 24, 2024. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to a federal prison.
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