Mark P. Messare, Short-barreled Rifle Possession, New York 2018

Mark P. Messare, 42, of Amsterdam, New York, stood before federal prosecutors today and admitted to building and possessing a ghost gun — a homemade short-barreled rifle cobbled together from a Glock 9 millimeter handgun and a Micro Roni Pistol Carbine Conversion Kit. The weapon, which Messare never registered, had a barrel length of just 4 inches and included a folding shoulder stock, transforming the handgun into a concealable, shoulder-fired firearm capable of rapid, destabilizing fire.

According to court documents, the crime dates back to September 8, 2018, when Messare knowingly possessed the illegal firearm. He admitted that he understood the Micro Roni kit was engineered specifically to convert handguns into short-barreled rifles — a modification strictly regulated under federal law. Such weapons fall under the National Firearms Act and must be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Messare did not file a single document.

“This wasn’t a hunting rifle left in a closet. This was a weapon designed to evade detection and increase lethality,” said United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith at a press briefing following the plea. “Short-barreled rifles like this are favorites among criminals who want firepower without the footprint. Messare broke the law by building it, possessing it, and refusing to register it.”

Messare is currently in federal custody and faces up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2019, before Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the judge will weigh the nature of the offense, Messare’s criminal history, and public safety concerns before imposing a final sentence.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John B. Devito. The ATF has cracked down on conversion kits like the Micro Roni in recent years, calling them “a growing threat to law enforcement and communities.” These kits, often purchased online, can turn legally owned handguns into illegal shoulder-fired weapons in minutes.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting the case. Federal officials warn that while conversion kits may be marketed as accessories, modifying a handgun with one — especially if it includes a shoulder stock — crosses a hard line into felony territory. For Messare, that line is now a prison cell awaiting judgment.

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