A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment for possession of a machine gun, according to a federal court ruling.
Dontrel Bentley, 34, was sentenced on January 25, 2024, for his role in possessing a loaded AR-15 style rifle next to him during a traffic stop on October 24, 2022.
According to the investigation, an officer with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police recovered the rifle and discovered an auto sear device in Bentley’s pocket, which renders a semiautomatic rifle fully automatic.
Bentley admitted to personally modifying the rifle at his home and stated that the auto sear device belonged to him.
The investigation revealed that the seized rifle fired as a fully automatic weapon, which is prohibited by federal law.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their work in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities.
The investigation revealed that the seized rifle fired as a fully automatic weapon, which is prohibited by federal law.
Bentley’s sentence includes 15 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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