Kristopher Justinboyer Ervin, Machine Gun Conversion, Florida 2021

A federal jury in Jacksonville, Florida, has found Kristopher Justinboyer Ervin (43, Orange Park) guilty of conspiring to transfer unregistered machine gun conversion devices, which he referred to as 'Auto Key Cards.'

Ervin was also convicted of seven counts of transferring unregistered machine gun conversion devices, three counts of possessing unregistered machine gun conversion devices, and one count of structuring cash transactions to avoid currency transaction reporting requirements.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in January 2021, Ervin's bank contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to report that employees believed that Ervin was trafficking in machine gun conversion devices.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Ervin was running an online business selling machine gun conversion devices, known as lightning links, etched into metal cards, which he referred to as Auto Key Cards.

Ervin described the Auto Key Card as a 'pen holder,' a 'novelty,' and a 'political sculpture.' A lightning link can be dropped into an otherwise legal AR-15 type firearm and convert it into a fully automatic machine gun.

The ATF examined the Auto Key Cards and a firearms enforcement officer was able to remove the pieces of a lightning link from an Auto Key Card using a common Dremel rotary tool in about 40 minutes.

When the firearms enforcement officer placed the two pieces of the lightning link into an AR-15 type firearm, it converted the semi-automatic firearm to be fully automatic.

Hoover operated a YouTube channel called CRS Firearms on which he advertised Auto Key Cards. In his videos, Hoover stated that 'laws only work if we follow them' and encouraged his viewers to use 'discreet ordering' by mail to purchase Auto Key Cards.

Ervin faces a maximum penalty of 110 years in federal prison and Hoover faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in federal prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2023.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/federal-jury-convicts-two-men-conspiring-transfer-unregistered-machinegun-conversion