KC Reporter

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.

Harris was convicted of illegally possessing and transferring an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 multi-caliber firearm containing an AR-type machine gun conversion device, along with two additional AR-type machine gun conversion devices.

According to court documents, on January 24, 2024, Harris sold an AR-style firearm equipped with 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 used to modify semi-automatic weapons so they can fire multiple rounds automatically with a single trigger pull. Federal law classifies these devices as machine guns whether or not they are attached to a firearm. Possession, sale, or use of such devices is illegal under federal regulations.

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

This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that coordinates law enforcement efforts at all levels to reduce violent crime and gun violence in communities nationwide. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building community trust and legitimacy, supporting organizations that prevent violence before it starts, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.