Ke’Rell Mileak Boone, Machinegun Possession, Virginia 2024

RICHMOND, VA – Ke’Rell Mileak Boone, 20, of Richmond, is headed to federal prison for 21 months after being sentenced today for possessing a firearm illegally rigged to function as a machinegun. The case highlights the growing threat of easily converted weapons flooding the streets and the ATF’s ongoing efforts to curb their proliferation.

Richmond Police detectives first flagged Boone on May 11, 2022, after spotting him and associates flashing firearms on social media. A subsequent encounter in the Whitcomb Court area led to a search revealing two handguns in Boone’s possession. One was a standard semiautomatic pistol. The other was far more dangerous: a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device, replacing its backplate with an illegal component designed to enable fully automatic fire.

Investigators discovered Boone wasn’t just in possession of the converted weapon; he was prepared to use it. He also had the original, legal backplate for the handgun in his pocket, suggesting a deliberate effort to modify the firearm. Adding to the danger, Boone had outfitted the machinegun with an extended magazine, capable of firing a large number of rounds rapidly.

“This sentence should send a clear message: illegally modifying firearms to function as machineguns is a serious federal offense with severe consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Our office, alongside the ATF and Richmond Police, remains dedicated to prosecuting those who endanger our communities with these dangerous weapons.”

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, and the Richmond Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Rick Edwards. Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares also weighed in on the importance of the prosecution.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman. Court documents related to the case, 3:23-cr-109, are available on the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia website or through PACER. Boone’s 21-month sentence will serve as a stark reminder to others considering similar illegal activity.

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