Brothers Sentenced in Federal Cases Involving Illegal Machine Gun Conversion Devices
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Two brothers, identified as Harris and Demetrius Harris, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in illegally possessing and selling machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches.” The cases, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are part of the Department of Justice’s “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, and violent crime.
Harris’s Sales to Undercover Agents
Harris sold illegal firearm components to undercover agents on two separate occasions in 2023. According to court documents, on an unspecified date, Harris sold a silver, Glock-type switch to an undercover agent for $350. Later, on November 9, 2023, he sold a Glock 9mm handgun, another Glock-type switch, an extended magazine, and twenty-three rounds of ammunition to an undercover agent for $960. Details of Harris’s sentencing were not included in the provided text.
Demetrius Harris’s Sentence
on September 24, 2025, Demetrius Harris, also known as “Meech,” 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F.Sachs to two and a half years in federal prison without parole. He was convicted for illegally possessing and transferring machine guns. on January 24, 2024, Demetrius Harris sold an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15, multi-caliber firearm equipped with an AR-type machine gun conversion device, along with two additional AR-type conversion devices and ammunition, to an undercover agent for $1,060.
What are Machine Gun Conversion Devices?
Machine gun conversion devices, often called “switches” or “auto sears,” are devices that modify semi-automatic firearms to function as machine guns. These devices allow a single pull of the trigger to fire multiple rounds automatically, increasing the rate of fire but often reducing accuracy. The ATF defines a machine gun as any weapon which shoots, or can be readily converted to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Crucially,federal law considers these devices to be machine guns even when not attached to a firearm,making their possession,sale,and use illegal.
Operation Take Back America
Both cases are part of “Operation Take Back America,” a broad initiative launched by the Department of Justice. This operation aims to:
* Repel illegal immigration.
* Eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).
* Protect communities from violent crime.
The operation consolidates resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to streamline efforts and maximize impact. More information about Operation Take Back America can be found on the department of Justice website.
Prosecution and Examination
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh, with investigative support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Key Takeaways:
* Two brothers were sentenced for federal crimes related to illegal machine gun conversion devices.
* These devices, known as “switches,” illegally convert semi-automatic firearms into machine guns.
* The cases are part of the Department of Justice’s “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative to combat crime and illegal immigration.
* Possessing, selling, or using machine gun conversion devices is a federal crime.
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