A Charlotte man is behind bars after being sentenced to 54 months in prison for possession of a machinegun.
Durell Smith, 22, of Charlotte, was sentenced on April 24, 2024 to 54 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Smith was arrested on February 10, 2023 by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) after officers observed him park a vehicle with a fictitious tag in front of a residence in Charlotte. During the arrest, officers found a Glock, model 17, 9mm caliber handgun with distinctive white skulls painted on it with a machinegun conversion device, also known as a Glock switch, installed.
The firearm with the skulls had been stolen and had a 30-round magazine inserted into the weapon. A further search of the car revealed a second machinegun, a Glock model 33 .357 caliber handgun with a Glock switch installed.
Court records show that Smith had previously posted photos online posing with the firearm with the painted skulls.
Smith pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun on April 24, 2024 and is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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