A 32-year-old Baltimore man has pleaded guilty in federal court to the unlawful possession of a machine gun, stemming from a traffic stop last year where officers discovered a modified handgun.
Garrick Powell entered the guilty plea, which was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.
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According to the details presented in the guilty plea, the incident occurred on April 19, 2023. BPD officers assigned to the Eastern District Baltimore Community Intelligence Center were conducting surveillance in the 500 block of North Patterson Park Avenue when they observed Powell exhibiting characteristics often associated with an armed individual.
Officers watched as Powell entered a vehicle and drove away from the area. They subsequently initiated a traffic stop. A search of Powell’s vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded Poly80 9mm handgun equipped with an extended magazine. Officials noted that Poly80 firearms are often referred to as “ghost guns” because they lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace.
Crucially, the firearm recovered from Powell’s vehicle had a conversion device attached. This device illegally modified the semi-automatic handgun, enabling it to function as a fully automatic weapon, thereby classifying it as a machine gun under federal law. In addition to the weapon, officers also seized a second extended magazine and 63 rounds of 9mm ammunition from the vehicle.
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Powell is scheduled for sentencing on July 16, at 10 a.m. While federal charges carry maximum penalties, actual sentences are determined by a federal district court judge who considers the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors, often resulting in sentences below the maximum.
This prosecution is highlighted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. PSN emphasizes collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The Department of Justice bolstered the PSN program in May 2021, focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, implementing targeted enforcement strategies, and measuring outcomes.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the investigative efforts of both the ATF and the BPD in this case. She also extended thanks to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia McLane and Stanton Lawyer, who are prosecuting the case.
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