KC Reporter

A man from Raytown, Missouri, has admitted guilt in a federal court for being in possession of and distributing two machine gun conversion devices. Darius R. Harris, referred to as "D" and "D2," at 22 years old, entered a guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts for two counts of illegal possession of machine guns.

Harris sold a silver Glock-type switch to an undercover agent on October 30, 2023, for $350. Subsequently, on November 9, 2023, he traded a Glock 9mm handgun, a Glock-type switch, an extended magazine, and twenty-three rounds of ammunition to another undercover agent for $960.

On April 1, 2025, Demetrius Harris, Darius’s sibling, also known as "Meech," aged 24, entered a guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris to a similar charge of illegal possession of machine guns. On January 24, 2024, Demetrius sold an AR-style firearm fitted with an auto sear, and included two additional auto sears and ammunition, to an undercover operative for $1,060. Demetrius Harris is presently awaiting sentencing.

These machine gun conversion devices, which are also labeled as "switches" or "auto sears," convert semi-automatic firearms into machine guns capable of firing multiple shots with a single trigger pull. Despite not being affixed to a firearm, these devices are classified as machine guns under federal law, rendering their possession, sale, or use illegal.

Darius R. Harris faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, according to federal statutes. The maximum statutory sentence is specified by Congress for informational purposes. Sentencing for Harris will be determined by the court after considering advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be arranged post the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

The case is being overseen by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative initiative aligning all levels of law enforcement and communities to diminish violent crime and gun violence, promoting safer neighborhoods. On May 26, 2021, a strategy to reduce violent crime was implemented, reinforcing PSN based on principles such as promoting community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention through community organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result assessment.