Shykeem Kartarell Grant, Machinegun Possession, Alabama 2023

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A wave of gun crime is hitting the streets of Montgomery, as eleven individuals have been indicted on federal charges related to the illegal possession of machineguns, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday. The indictments, handed down over the past two months, reveal a disturbing trend of semiautomatic firearms being illegally modified to achieve fully automatic capabilities.

Federal investigators say the defendants were caught possessing firearms equipped with “switches” or “auto sears” – cheap, readily available devices that transform standard weapons into instruments of rapid, potentially deadly fire, capable of unleashing up to 20 rounds per second. These conversion devices have exploded in popularity, fueling concerns among law enforcement about an escalation in violent crime. The proliferation of these illegal modifications poses a serious threat to both officers and the public, authorities warn.

The most serious charges carry a hefty penalty: up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Among those indicted is Shykeem Kartarell Grant, 21, facing charges of Possession of a machinegun, felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering with a witness by intimidation or threats, stemming from alleged offenses on November 2, 2023 and October 26, 2023. Quadarius Deandre Lindsey, 30, is charged with Possession of a machinegun and felon in possession of a firearm, allegedly occurring on May 29, 2023.

The list of defendants continues with Deandre Nyquan Lucas, 20, charged with Possession of a machinegun on August 18, 2023; Clarence Anthony McCall, 20, facing two counts of Possession of a machinegun on August 18, 2023 and October 30, 2023; Vandarius Jamal Parks, 21, charged with Possession of a machinegun on July 25, 2023; and Tavius Smith, 23, also charged with Possession of a machinegun on May 6, 2023.

Further indictments include My’qurious Xavier Solomon, 19, facing Possession of a machinegun and tampering with a witness by intimidation and threats (October 25, 2023 and October 31, 2023); Dequarius Dewayne Thornton, 26, charged with Possession of a machinegun; and several others whose cases are progressing through the legal system. The U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The crackdown is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative, a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies aimed at reducing violent crime. The investigation was a joint effort between the Montgomery Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with support from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon W. Bates, Eric M. Counts, Joel Feil, John J. Geer, III and Justin L. Jones are prosecuting the cases. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story.

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