ALBUQUERQUE – A mother and son in Albuquerque are facing serious time after a federal investigation exposed their operation trafficking illegal machine gun conversion devices. Joe Jasso, 21, and his mother, Rachael Jasso, 43, were sentenced in federal court after using Instagram and a 3D printer to manufacture and sell the devices, capable of turning ordinary firearms into fully automatic weapons. The case, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), uncovered a disturbing cache of firearms and components.
The investigation began in February 2023, when an undercover ATF detective connected with Joe Jasso on Instagram. Court documents reveal Jasso openly advertised and sold illegal machine gun conversion devices (MCDs), including AR-15 auto sears. On February 7, Jasso met the detective at Kiva Park, demonstrating how to install an MCD. Later that same day, at a Buffalo Wild Wings, he delivered an AR auto sear, with both Joe and Rachael Jasso confirming their ability to produce more. They were brazen, operating in plain sight.
A subsequent search warrant executed on February 16 at the Jasso residence in Northeast Albuquerque yielded approximately ten firearms, five machine gun conversion devices, substantial quantities of ammunition, and the 3D printer used to create the illegal parts. Joe Jasso admitted to using Instagram to conduct the sales and to modifying firearms. Critically, neither he nor his mother held the necessary federal licenses to legally possess or manufacture these dangerous items. They were operating completely outside the law.
Both Joe Jasso and Rachael Jasso pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and possession of a machine gun conversion device. Joe Jasso received a 33-month sentence in federal prison, while Rachael Jasso was sentenced to 30 months. There is no parole in the federal system. Following their release, both will be subject to two years of supervised release – a small consolation for the danger they introduced into our communities.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the ATF, jointly announced the sentencing. The ATF investigation was supported by the Albuquerque Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuting the case. This case underscores the growing threat posed by easily accessible, illegally manufactured weapons and the commitment of federal agencies to dismantle these operations.
Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are not harmless gadgets; they are illegal tools that transform semi-automatic firearms into weapons of mass destruction. The proliferation of these devices is a clear and present danger. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of these devices, indicating an alarming trend. Violent gangs are increasingly utilizing them, escalating violence and threatening public safety. If you have information regarding illegal firearms or conversion devices, contact the ATF immediately: Call 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477), Email ATFTips@atf.gov, or Visit www.atf.gov/atf-tips. Your information could prevent the next tragedy.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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