BOSTON, MA – Michael Wilkerson, 23, of Boston, is headed to prison for 20 months after being sentenced in federal court today for trafficking in illegal machinegun conversion devices. Wilkerson, along with co-defendant Elijah Navarro, was caught peddling parts that turn ordinary firearms into weapons capable of sustained automatic fire – a clear and dangerous escalation of firepower on the streets.
According to court documents, Wilkerson and Navarro were involved in the manufacturing and sale of these “machinegun conversion devices.” In January 2023, Navarro brokered a deal to sell 12 of the devices for $1,700 to an individual. The transaction unfolded in two meetings, with the first two devices going for $400 on January 19th, and the remaining ten delivered from Wilkerson’s residence on January 25th for an additional $1,300.
Federal agents weren’t far behind. A search of Wilkerson’s home in February 2023 turned up a veritable workshop of illegal activity. Authorities seized two 3-D printers, printing materials, multiple machinegun conversion devices, a ballistic vest, and a collection of firearms, ammunition, and magazines. Neither Wilkerson nor Navarro held the necessary licenses to legally manufacture, deal, or even possess such items.
This wasn’t just about selling parts; it was about converting legal firearms into illegal, fully automatic weapons. The implications are severe, raising the specter of increased gun violence and posing a direct threat to public safety. The devices allow a single pull of the trigger to unleash a rapid succession of bullets, vastly increasing the potential for harm.
Co-defendant Elijah Navarro previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in December 2023 and is currently awaiting sentencing. The case was spearheaded by Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, with assistance from James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Boston Field Division, and Boston Police Commissioner Michael A. Cox. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit handled the prosecution.
Wilkerson’s sentence includes 20 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that those who illegally manufacture and traffic in weapons will face federal prosecution and significant penalties. The ATF continues to investigate and dismantle these dangerous operations, working to keep illegal weapons off the streets of Boston and beyond.
Related Federal Cases
- Boston Man Sentenced for Trafficking Machinegun Conversion Devices · Alabama
- Elijah Navarro, Machinegun Trafficking, Boston MA, 2023 · Massachusetts
- Elijah Navarro, Wilkerson, Gun Trafficking, Boston MA, 2023 · Massachusetts
- Michael Younge, Firearms Trafficking Scheme, NH 2024 · Massachusetts
- Rafael da Silva, Firearms Trafficking, Boston MA, 2024 · Alabama
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