Cleveland, Ohio – A violent crime reduction initiative led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has resulted in the sentencing of seven individuals involved in a firearms-trafficking conspiracy. Acting United States Attorney Carol M. Skutnik for the Northern District of Ohio announced the sentencings, which follow a large-scale federal, state, and local law enforcement effort to reduce gun-related violence.
Each defendant pleaded guilty to their respective charges and received prison sentences from U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson. After serving their sentences, all will be placed under supervised release for three years.
Details of the Sentences
The convicted individuals, all from Cleveland or surrounding areas, were found guilty of offenses ranging from illegal firearm sales to possession of machineguns and machinegun conversion devices.
- Malachi Berry, 22 – Sentenced to 89 months in prison for conspiracy to possess machineguns and engage in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license. Court documents revealed Berry was responsible for arranging the sale of 13 firearms, some of which were reported stolen or had obliterated serial numbers. He also brokered sales by recruiting others to distribute weapons, including machineguns.
- Darvell Jackson, 21 – Received 168 months in prison for conspiracy to possess a machinegun, unlawful firearm dealing, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Jackson sold seven firearms, including stolen weapons and high-capacity magazines. He also trafficked at least four machinegun conversion devices.
- Nimar Linder, 22 – Sentenced to 70 months in prison for engaging in firearm sales without a license and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Linder, a convicted felon, sold five firearms, some equipped with high-capacity magazines and obliterated serial numbers.
- Terrez Wilson, 20 – Received 26 months in prison for possession of a machinegun. He sold a Glock Model 22, .40 caliber pistol, which had been modified with a machinegun conversion device.
- Maurice Hardman, 20 – Sentenced to 33 months in prison for possession of a machinegun and unlawful firearm sales. He sold a Glock Model 32Gen4, .357 caliber Sig-pistol, which had an affixed machinegun conversion device, and later sold a Glock Model 19Gen5, 9mm pistol.
- Brandon Kimbrough, 24 – Received 29 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Court records show Kimbrough illegally possessed and sold a Taurus Model G3, 9mm pistol with a high-capacity magazine.
- Steven Armstrong, 20 – Sentenced to 26 months in prison for possession of a machinegun. Armstrong admitted that he had access to “buttons,” a term referring to machinegun conversion devices, as well as “ghost Glocks,” which are privately made firearms without serial numbers. He also sold a machinegun conversion device.
Federal Crackdown on Illegal Firearm Sales
This sentencing is part of an ongoing effort to reduce firearm-related violence in Ohio. The ATF, along with other law enforcement agencies, worked to dismantle a network of illegal firearm sales involving stolen weapons, modified machineguns, and high-capacity magazines.
Authorities emphasized that these individuals contributed to the circulation of dangerous weapons, some of which were used in violent crimes. Machinegun conversion devices, in particular, pose a significant threat as they allow semi-automatic firearms to function as fully automatic weapons…