Charlotte resident Trevaris Devar Kennedy, 21, has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a machinegun. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, announced the sentencing yesterday, detailing that Kennedy will serve 46 months followed by three years of supervised release. The charges stem from a December 2023 incident when Kennedy, then a passenger in a vehicle with an expired registration, fled from a traffic stop initiated by the Statesville Police Department. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as the chase ensued, firearms were discarded from the vehicle, leading to the recovery of two modified Glocks with extended magazines and devices to convert them into automatic weapons.
During the police intervention, intended to apprehend a fleeting driver, two firearms were thrown from the vehicle's passenger window by Kennedy into a adjacent wooded area. Following the arrest, an investigation by law enforcement agents produced further evidence against Kennedy. Investigators discovered videos and photos on Kennedy’s seized cell phone displaying him with various firearms, some equipped with illegal "Glock switches." Kennedy’s social media also suggested he was involved in selling these devices. The discovery was particularly alarming considering Kennedy's status as a prohibited person under federal law due to his prior convictions.
The ongoing case was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Statesville Police Department, leading to Kennedy's prompt conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Kinlaw from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte was acknowledged for prosecuting the case. Kennedy, transferring soon to a federal prison, had been prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as he was already on probation.
When law enforcement recovered the firearms thrown into the woods, they also found 55 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Cell phone evidence linked to Kennedy helped show the seriousness of his actions. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Kennedy wasn’t just possessing guns; by selling Glock switches on social media, he was helping spread illegal firearm modifications, which posed a serious threat to public safety.
