Duayne Nelson, Machine Gun Possession, Connecticut 2023

NEW HAVEN, CT – Duayne Nelson, 31, of New Haven, is looking at a potential 15-year stretch in federal prison after admitting today to unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon. The bust, a product of a joint investigation by the ATF and West Haven Police, uncovered more than just illegal handgun ownership – it revealed a dangerous modification turning one weapon into a fully automatic machine gun.

According to court documents, Nelson was apprehended in West Haven on July 14, 2022, carrying a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun with a high-capacity 12-round magazine, and a Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun. But it was the Glock that raised the most serious red flags. Investigators discovered the handgun was fitted with a “sear switch,” an illegal device that transforms a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon, capable of unleashing a rapid burst of gunfire.

This wasn’t Nelson’s first brush with the law. Court records show a prior state conviction for criminal weapon possession, along with a second-degree robbery conviction. Federal law explicitly prohibits anyone previously convicted of a felony from possessing firearms or ammunition that has crossed state lines – a key component of the charge in this case.

U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut announced the guilty plea, highlighting the seriousness of the offense. “Illegal gun possession, especially the conversion of a handgun into a machine gun, poses a grave threat to public safety,” Avery stated. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who violate federal firearms laws and endanger our communities.”

Nelson is currently out on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford on February 20, 2024, for sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime through targeted enforcement and community partnerships.

The ATF’s Boston Field Division spearheaded the investigation, working in close coordination with the West Haven Police Department. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against illegal firearms and the dedication of law enforcement to keeping dangerous weapons off the streets. The PSN program aims to address the root causes of violence and provide lasting solutions, but for Nelson, the immediate future looks bleak as he awaits his fate in federal court.

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