A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison without parole for possessing and transferring machine gun conversion devices. Demetrius Harris, also known as “Meech,” 24, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs.
According to court documents, Harris illegally possessed and transferred an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 multi-caliber firearm equipped with an AR-type machine gun conversion device, as well as two additional AR-type machine gun conversion devices. On January 24, 2024, Harris sold an AR-style firearm containing an auto sear, two extra auto sears, and ammunition to an undercover agent for $1,060.
Machine gun conversion devices—commonly referred to as “switches” or “auto sears”—are designed to convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firearms capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. These devices are classified as machine guns under federal law regardless of whether they are attached to a firearm. Federal law prohibits the possession, sale, or use of such devices.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh prosecuted the case following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that coordinates efforts among law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice enhanced this initiative on May 26, 2021 by focusing on building community trust and legitimacy, supporting organizations that prevent violence before it occurs, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
