Three Montgomery men are heading to federal prison after each was convicted of illegal possession of a machine gun. In each case, the firearm was a semi-automatic weapon altered with a conversion device referred to as a “switch” or “auto sear.” The modification turns the gun into a fully automatic weapon capable of firing up to 20 rounds per second with a single pull of the trigger.

Those arrested and convicted were Deandre Nyquan Lucas,20; Cammeron Leroy Youngblood, 23; and Derrick Dontrell Taylor, 27. Nyquan was sentenced to 120 months, Youngblood received 27 months, and Taylor was given 21 months.

Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.

“Due to their rapid rate of fire, these conversion devices pose a significant threat to communities and law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Ross. “Not too long ago, these devices were rare. Unfortunately, in a very short period of time, they have become common in communities across the district.”

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“The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners place a high priority on investigating and prosecuting cases involving the possession of one of these devices.”

The possession of a machine gun, which, under a federal statute, includes the possession of a conversion device alone, carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The cases are part of a new initiative called Project Safe Neighborhood which aims to unite law enforcement with the communities they serve to better fight violent crime and firearm-related homicides.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten