EUGENE, Ore. – Michael Ray Emry, 54, of John Day, Oregon, is looking at a decade behind bars after admitting to possessing a seriously illegal weapon. On Monday, January 23, 2017, Emry pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken to unlawful possession of a fully automatic .50 caliber machine gun that wasn’t registered to him – a clear violation of federal law.
The feds weren’t messing around. Court documents reveal that on May 6, 2016, agents descended on Emry’s John Day trailer, executing a search warrant that turned up a Browning M2 machine gun. The weapon wasn’t just unregistered; its serial number had been deliberately obliterated, a move designed to hide its origins and make tracking it impossible. That alone is a felony.
Emry didn’t bother denying ownership or the weapon’s capabilities. He confessed to agents the firearm was fully automatic, capable of spitting out between 550 and 650 rounds per minute. He even admitted to stealing the weapon from a man in Idaho, and then taking the additional step of removing the serial number before hauling it across state lines. A stolen, unregistered, and modified machine gun – a trifecta of trouble.
Judge Aiken has scheduled Emry’s sentencing hearing for April 3, 2017. The potential consequences are steep. He’s facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a $10,000 fine, and an additional three years of supervised release after he eventually gets out. Considering the seriousness of the offense, and Emry’s own admissions, a lengthy sentence is almost a certainty.
The investigation was a joint effort, with the FBI working closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This wasn’t a lone wolf operation; these agencies clearly prioritized taking this dangerous weapon off the streets. Assistant United States Attorney Nathan J. Lichvarcik is prosecuting the case, ensuring Emry is held accountable for his actions.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This incident serves as a stark reminder that possessing illegal weapons, especially those capable of such devastating firepower, carries severe consequences under federal law. The streets of Oregon are a little safer with one less unregistered .50 cal in circulation.
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