Three Montgomery Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Machineguns

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA - Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge sentenced three individuals from Montgomery, Alabama in cases involving possession of a machinegun. 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, commonly known as a "switch" or "auto sear."

Earlier this week, 20-year-old Deandre Nyquan Lucas received a 120-month prison sentence. In another unrelated case, a judge imposed a 27-month sentence for 23-year-old Cammeron Leroy Youngblood. Third, a judge sentenced 27-year-old Derrick Dontrell Taylor 21 months in federal prison. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.

When installed on a firearm, a machinegun conversion device allows a gun to function as a fully automatic weapon capable of firing up to 20 rounds per second with a single pull of the trigger. 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 ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

"Due to their rapid rate of fire, these conversion devices pose a significant threat to communities and law enforcement," stated United States Attorney Ross. "Not too long ago, these devices were rare. Unfortunately, in a very short period of time, they have become common in communities across the district. The United States Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners place a high priority on investigating and prosecuting cases involving the possession of one of these devices."

These cases are 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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Montgomery Police Department investigated these cases, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates, John J. Geer, III, Justin L. Jones, and Michelle R. Turner prosecuted the cases.