Norfolk, Virginia.A Norfolk man who pleaded guilty to trafficking machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) and unlawfully having weapons as a convicted felon was given a sentence of two years and three months in federal prison on Friday.
After an undercover investigation by the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Austin Perrine, 33, was found guilty. Perrine met undercover agents at a Virginia Beach pub on December 15, 2022, to talk about dealing in MCDs, which are devices that turn semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. Perrine sold two MCDs that were concealed in his clothes for $1,000 at the meeting.
On January 4, 2023, federal agents subsequently carried out a search warrant at Perrine’s home in Norfolk. They found magazines, ammunition, two handguns, and other firearm components during the search. Perrine is legally forbidden from owning firearms or ammo due to her prior felony conviction.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement that this punishment shows the dedication of federal, state, and local law enforcement to fight the trafficking of illegal guns and firearm accessories. Officials stressed that because MCDs can turn firearms into unlawful machineguns, they represent a serious threat to public safety.
The case was prosecuted under the auspices of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative that uses community partnerships and coordinated law enforcement to reduce gun violence and violent crime. The program aims to stop the illegal importation of firearms into communities and target violent offenders.
The Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, VBPD, and ATF worked together on this investigation and the ensuing prosecution. The case was handled in federal court by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, who is also an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.
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