KC Reporter

A man in Kansas City, Missouri, has admitted to federal charges for possessing and distributing machine gun conversion devices. Marquelle D. Love, 22, who is also known by the nickname "Q," appeared before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips and pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing machine guns, specifically three Glock-type machine gun conversion devices and one AR-type conversion device.

The guilty plea stems from an incident on January 17, 2024, when Love sold an AR-drop-in auto sear and three metal Glock-type switches to an undercover agent for $780. These conversion devices allow semi-automatic weapons to function as machine guns, which are classified under federal law as machine guns regardless of their attachment to a firearm.

Under federal law, Love faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. The final sentence, however, will be determined by the court in accordance with advisory sentencing guidelines and other factors once the United States Probation Office completes a presentence investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducting the investigation.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort of various law enforcement levels and community members working to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The project is part of a broader Department of Justice initiative launched on May 26, 2021, aimed at reducing violent crime through community trust, strategic enforcement, and supporting organizations preventing violence.