MUSKOGEE, OK – Keaton Dwayne Tripp, 21, of Okmulgee, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 41 months for illegally possessing a machine gun. The case, stemming from a March 23, 2023, home invasion response, highlights a growing concern over the dangerous modification of firearms.
According to investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Muskogee Police Department, Tripp was apprehended at the scene of the reported home invasion and found to be in possession of a pistol that had been illegally altered to fire fully automatically. The modification transforms a standard handgun into a significantly more dangerous weapon, capable of rapid and sustained fire.
Tripp entered a guilty plea on May 11, 2023, to one count of Possession of a Machine Gun in federal district court. The prosecution, led by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter, argued that Tripp knowingly possessed the illegal weapon, posing a clear and present danger to the public. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma successfully demonstrated the severity of the crime and the need for a substantial sentence.
“Converting firearms to fully automatic is an alarming trend which poses a tremendous threat to our communities,” stated United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Identifying and prosecuting persons unlawfully converting and/or knowingly possessing these illegal, extremely dangerous weapons is a focus of the Department of Justice.” The statement underscores the federal government’s commitment to tackling the proliferation of illegal firearms.
Chief Judge Ronald A. White of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma handed down the 41-month sentence. Tripp will be held by the U.S. Marshal until transported to a designated Bureau of Prisons facility. The sentence is non-parolable, meaning Tripp will serve the entirety of the 41-month term with no possibility of early release.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the penalties associated with illegal weapon modifications and possession. Federal authorities continue to work with local law enforcement to crack down on these activities, aiming to curb gun violence and protect communities. The ATF’s Dallas Field Division was instrumental in the investigation, demonstrating interagency cooperation in addressing this serious crime.
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