Jacksonville Repeat-Offender Pleads Guilty To Possessing Machinegun

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Markee Washington (33, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Washington faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. As part of his plea, Washington has agreed to forfeit a Glock pistol, machinegun conversion device, and ammunition involved in the case.

According to the plea agreement, on February 11, 2023, at approximately 10:45 p.m., a trooper from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) conducted a traffic stop of a car that Washington was driving. The trooper was quickly joined at the scene by two officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO). Based on Washington's statements that he had been smoking marijuana, as well as the smell of the drug emanating from him and the car, officers searched the car. Inside the gap between the car's ceiling and roof (which was accessible by removing the overhead sunglasses compartment), an officer located a bundle of cash and a 9mm Glock pistol.

The pistol was loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition in an extended magazine. It also was outfitted with a so-called Glock-switch, that is, a device installed on the pistol that converted it into a fully automatic machinegun. Washington surrendered to the officers a small bag of marijuana that he had hidden down his pants. He also had a stack of cash in his pants' pocket. In total, $2,447 was in the car and on Washington.

An investigator later obtained a search warrant authorizing law enforcement to obtain a DNA sample from Washington. Laboratory testing determined that his DNA was both on the exterior of the Glock pistol and on ammunition loaded inside the pistol's magazine.

At the time, Washington had previously been convicted of various felonies, including multiple drug-trafficking offenses. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited by law from possessing firearms and ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Coolican and Kelly S. Milliron.

This case is 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.