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Plant City Man Charged With Smuggling Machinegun Conversion Devices
Tampa, FL – In a brazen display of defiance, 41-year-old Phillip Michael Valeriani of Plant City has been arrested and charged with smuggling machinegun conversion devices into the United States, possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possession of unregistered machineguns and a silencer.
According to a complaint filed in federal court, Valeriani faces up to 20 years in federal prison for smuggling machinegun conversion devices, up to 15 years for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of an unregistered machinegun and silencer.
The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations, began in April 2024 when U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a suspicious package shipped from Shenzhen, China and destined for Valeriani’s Plant City residence. The package contained 63 machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” A Glock switch is an illegal conversion device that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon.
After confirming Valeriani was the intended recipient of the package, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at his residence. During the search, authorities seized a cache of firearms, including a pistol with a foldable stock and Glock switch, ammunition, a silencer, narcotics, a tactical vest with ballistic plates, and FBI and DEA raid jackets.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The prosecution is being handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Haynes.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
RELATED: Meridian Man Gets 5 Years Probation for Dam Destruction
RELATED: Convicted Felon Phillip Valeriani Dismantled: Smuggling Machineguns into USA
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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