OKLAHOMA CITY – A domestic disturbance call spiraled into a major federal case, landing 30-year-old Travelle Lamont Lathan of Oklahoma City with a 163-month prison sentence. Lathan was sentenced this week for illegally possessing a modified machinegun, methamphetamine intended for distribution, and violating federal firearms laws as a convicted felon.
The case began in November 2022 when Oklahoma City Police responded to a 911 call regarding a domestic incident at Lathan’s apartment. A search revealed over 195 grams of methamphetamine, ammunition, and a handgun. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) quickly determined the handgun wasn’t just a firearm – it had been rigged with an illegal “switch,” transforming it into a fully automatic machinegun. This wasn’t a simple possession charge; it was a loaded weapon primed for rapid-fire destruction.
Lathan’s criminal history is extensive. Court records show prior felony convictions in both Oklahoma and Missouri, including a 2018 Cleveland County conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and attempting to elude police. He also faced charges in St. Louis, Missouri, for Trafficking in Drugs and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (case number 1722-CR-1881-01). The feds weren’t dealing with a first-time offender; they were dealing with a repeat criminal with a clear disregard for the law.
A federal grand jury indicted Lathan on December 7, 2022, with five counts: being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, possession of a machinegun, and felonious possession of ammunition. Lathan pleaded guilty to three of those counts on May 5, 2023, admitting to possessing both the drugs and the illegally modified weapon. He wasn’t contesting the evidence; he was simply accepting the consequences.
During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk didn’t mince words. He highlighted the danger posed by Lathan possessing a machinegun, complete with a 50-round drum magazine and a pistol-caliber ballistic vest. The judge also factored in the underlying domestic assault, demonstrating a pattern of violent behavior. The 163-month sentence sends a clear message: illegal gun modifications and drug trafficking will not be tolerated.
This case is part of “Operation 922” and “Project Switch Off,” initiatives under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods. “Operation 922” focuses on firearms violations linked to domestic violence, while “Project Switch Off” specifically targets illegal machinegun conversion devices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case, and the investigation was a joint effort between the ATF and the Oklahoma City Police Department. The streets of Oklahoma City are a little safer now that this dangerous combination of drugs and illegal weaponry is off them.
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