Daniel Matthew Kittson, Machine Gun Transfer, Oregon 2023

SALEM, OR – A repeat felon with a history of violent crime has been sentenced to federal prison after attempting to sell a fully automatic machine gun to an undercover agent. Daniel Matthew Kittson, 61, of Salem, was handed a 27-month sentence Monday, followed by three years of supervised release, after being convicted at trial of illegally transferring the weapon.

According to court documents, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Kittson in December 2019 after receiving information he was peddling a Russian PPSh-41 – a notorious submachine gun capable of unleashing approximately 900 rounds per minute. The investigation quickly revealed a glaring problem: Kittson wasn’t allowed to have the weapon, let alone sell it. He already had prior felony convictions for attempted murder, first-degree manslaughter, and being a felon in possession of a weapon.

Undercover ATF agents arranged a controlled purchase in January 2020, successfully completing the transaction on January 10th. Subsequent testing confirmed the PPSh-41 was fully functional. Kittson was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland on March 9, 2021, facing charges of illegally possessing and transferring a machine gun, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service on May 28, 2021, and released pending trial.

But Kittson didn’t stay put. In June 2022, he vanished, violating the terms of his pretrial supervision. Three months later, on September 27, 2022, authorities located him in Crook County, not only in possession of a firearm but also with small amounts of methamphetamine and heroin. The additional charges from that arrest were not detailed in the press release.

Despite his attempts to evade justice, a jury found Kittson guilty of illegally transferring the machine gun on August 24th. The sentence handed down Monday sends a clear message: those who illegally traffic weapons, especially dangerous ones like machine guns, will be held accountable, particularly when they have a history of violence.

The case was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Bolstad and Nicole Bockelman of the District of Oregon. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments, including details regarding the additional drug charges from Kittson’s apprehension in Crook County.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Weapons

United States v. Multiple Firearms, Mississippi 2023

Oct 5, 2018

Weapons

Curlie Pruitt, III, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Missouri 2024

Dec 22, 2016

Weapons

Tylius Arceneaux, Illegal Possession of Firearms, Louisiana 2024

Dec 19, 2024

Weapons

Russell Henderson Marshall, Exporting Military Tech, Florida 2023

Apr 27, 2015