Brian Levarr Perry Jr., Machine Gun Possession, Virginia 2023

NORFOLK, VA – Brian Levarr Perry Jr., 24, of Portsmouth, Virginia, admitted in federal court yesterday to illegally possessing a machine gun. The case, built on a routine traffic stop gone sideways, highlights the continued flow of modified firearms onto the streets of Hampton Roads.

The bust originated with a 911 call on June 9, 2022. Portsmouth Police Department officers responded to a BP gas station on George Washington Highway after reports of two men openly carrying firearms. When police arrived, both men bolted. Officers quickly apprehended Perry, seated inside a van, while the second suspect escaped on foot.

A search of Perry revealed a Glock Model 33 pistol tucked into his waistband. But this wasn’t a standard handgun. Authorities determined the firearm had been illegally modified with an auto sear – a device that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. Possession of such a weapon is a serious federal offense.

Federal prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for Perry. While sentencing guidelines and judicial discretion will ultimately determine the length of his incarceration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia is signaling a firm stance against illegal firearm modifications. Perry is scheduled to appear before a federal district court judge on May 15, 2024.

The investigation involved a multi-agency effort, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, the Portsmouth Police Department, and the Virginia Beach Police Department. The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal program designed to combat violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts.

U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber emphasized the commitment to keeping communities safe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Montoya is prosecuting the case. Court documents related to case number 2:23-cr-22 are available on the District Court website or through PACER. This conviction sends a clear message: illegally modifying firearms and possessing machine guns will be met with swift and severe consequences.”

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