Two men from Memphis, Jermaine Brown, 19, and Alvin McGee, 23, have been handed federal prison sentences for the illegal possession of machine guns, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Tennessee. The sentences arise from an incident originally taking place on July 10, 2023, when the duo was spotted driving a stolen Hyundai Sonata by officers from the Memphis Police Department.
Attempting to evade law enforcement through the Kensington Manor apartment complex, the pursuit met its end when their vehicle slammed into a dumpster at a dead end. The driver, Brown, and McGee, the front passenger, both alighted from the moving vehicle. After a brief chase, Brown discarded a Glock .40 caliber pistol, equipped with a machinegun conversion device and loaded with 17 rounds. McGee, in the process of fleeing, was found in possession of an AR-15 style .223 caliber rifle, complete with approximately 60 rounds and a "drop-in auto sear," which is designed to convert the rifle into a machinegun. revealed details of the case.
The indictment for the possession of machineguns against both individuals came in December 2023. Subsequently, Brown entered a guilty plea on July 12, 2024, before Senior United States District Judge Jon Phipps McCalla, who, on November 8, 2024, sentenced him to 27 months in federal prison with an additional three years of supervised release. McGee, following his guilty plea on October 18, 2024, was handed a 41-month prison term by Judge McCalla on January 24, 2025, also to be succeeded by a three-year term of supervised release.
As part of the federal sentence, neither Brown nor McGee will be eligible for parole. The charges stemmed from a collaboration between the local Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The government's side was represented in court by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner, who pursued the prosecution of the machinegun possession case.
In a statement, Acting United States Attorney Fondren extended gratitude towards the law enforcement entities that contributed to the successful handling of this case. The sentencing marks a culmination of efforts by both the Memphis Police and federal agencies to address the illegal possession of firearms converted to fully automatic functionality, a matter treated with significant gravity under federal law.
