A Raytown, Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for possessing and transferring machine gun conversion devices. Darius R. Harris, also known as “D” and “D2,” age 23, received a sentence of twenty-one months in federal prison without parole from U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips. This sentence will be served consecutively to a seven-year state sentence Harris is already serving for first-degree assault.
According to court records, on October 30, 2023, Harris sold a silver Glock-type switch to an undercover agent for $350. On November 9, 2023, he sold a Glock 9mm handgun along with a Glock-type switch, an extended magazine, and twenty-three rounds of ammunition to the same agent for $960.
The case also involved Harris’ brother, Demetrius Harris (also known as “Meech”), age 25. On September 24, 2025, Demetrius was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to two and a half years in federal prison without parole for similar offenses. On January 24, 2024, Demetrius sold an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 multi-caliber firearm containing an AR-type machine gun conversion device, two additional AR-type machine gun conversion devices, and ammunition to an undercover agent for $1,060.
Machine gun conversion devices—often called “switches” or “auto sears”—convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firearms capable of firing multiple shots with one trigger pull. Federal law classifies these devices as machine guns regardless of whether they are attached to a firearm; it is illegal to possess or sell them.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh prosecuted the case following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America,” according to the press release. “Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
