An Oklahoma City man, identified as John Anthony Owen, 24, has been handed a federal prison sentence for the illegal possession of machinegun conversion devices. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, Owen has been sentenced to 46 months, followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced on Thursday, that Owen was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of weapons converted to machineguns. This arrest stems from an April 4, 2024, action where local police executed a search of Owen's residence and discovered firearms illegally modified with machinegun conversion devicess—devices that are designed to quickly and illegally convert semi-automatic firearms into machineguns. It is federal law that strictly prohibits the possession of such devices, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Owen's case is part of a broader strategic initiative known as Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a concerted effort to combine the forces of various levels of law enforcement with community engagement to reduce violent crime and gun violence. Under "Project Switch Off", the Western District of Oklahoma's local implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on eliminating illegal machinegun conversion devices specifically, with Owen's sentence signaling a clear enforcement of this focus, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The sentencing hearing was overseen by U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman who, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office press release, mentioned the "nature and circumstances of the offense" whilst announcing Owen's prison term. This case serves to highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to not only apprehend but also to seek to effectively prosecute individuals involved in the illegal modification and possession of firearms.
The investigation that led to Owen's arrest and subsequent sentencing was a joint operation between the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution was carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hoch. The arrest and conviction of Owen are a part of persistent endeavors to promote public safety and to actively remove dangerous, illegal weapons from the community.
