Machine Gun Hustler Caged: 8+ Years

⏱ 3 min read

Michael Naun Antunez Vasquez, 22, is facing a long stretch behind bars after a July 9th deal in Charlotte landed him in federal court. The Honduran national was busted peddling firearms – including a pistol illegally modified to fire automatically – along with narcotics. Feds say Vasquez was here illegally while running the operation.

ATF agents, working with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, took Vasquez down when he sold a Romarm/Cugir pistol with a high-capacity magazine to an undercover operative. The guy wasn’t shy, court records show. He bragged about his ability to source more illegal weapons and the devices used to turn ordinary pistols into machine guns, promising a steady supply of hardware.

Vasquez pleaded guilty to four counts: trafficking in firearms, possessing a machinegun, transferring a machinegun, and possessing a firearm while involved in drug trafficking. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson’s office made it clear: Vasquez was profiting from putting dangerous weapons on the streets.

The judge handed down a 101-month sentence, followed by two years of supervised release. Once he’s done with prison, Vasquez will be deported and permanently banned from the United States. ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones says the bust is part of a larger effort to cut off the flow of illegal firearms into the community.