Memphis police say a trail from a stolen 2022 Mercedes ended with four men in cuffs and a table full of seized evidence in Whitehaven. Officers recovered nine handguns, including one fitted with a machine gun conversion device, about 40 vehicle key fobs, burglary tools and approximately 149 grams of marijuana during the operation. Three of the suspects were taken into custody after a brief foot chase, and a fourth was arrested at a residence, according to authorities.
The case began on February 27, when a 2022 Mercedes GLE 450 was reported stolen from the 3700 block of Prescott Road in the Oakhaven neighborhood, according to WREG. Officers tracked the vehicle to the 4200 block of Chambliss Cove, then later saw it travel to the 5800 block of Whistling Duck in Whitehaven. That is where three suspects were taken into custody after a short foot chase, WREG reports.
Search warrants and evidence recovered
The Memphis Police Department said search warrants at residences on Chambliss Cove and Whistling Duck turned up nine handguns, one handgun with a conversion device, roughly 40 key fobs, burglary tools and about 149 grams of marijuana, according to the Memphis Police Department. Investigators said the mix of tools and electronic fobs points to organized efforts at vehicle theft and the reprogramming of vehicle entry systems, according to the department’s initial account.
Charges and court dates
Authorities identified the four men as Ahmed Diallo, Djibril Diallo, Antoine Carr and Antonio George, and outlined a slate of felony counts tied to the case. WREG reports that Ahmed Diallo faces multiple burglary and vehicle theft charges, along with counts of evading arrest and tampering with evidence. Djibril Diallo is charged with theft of a firearm. Antoine Carr faces weapons-related charges and alleged possession of equipment used to program key fobs. Antonio George is charged with theft of property and evading arrest and has bond set at $110,000, with a court date scheduled for March 6, according to the outlet.
Legal implications
Possessing a device that converts a firearm to fully automatic can bring federal charges and lengthy prison terms, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee has pursued similar cases. The U.S. Department of Justice recently highlighted a multi-year sentence in a Memphis case involving an illegal conversion device, underscoring how seriously federal authorities treat that kind of hardware.
How it fits into local enforcement efforts
The bust comes as local and federal task forces have ramped up efforts targeting auto theft and illegal guns in Memphis. The U.S. Marshals Service’s Memphis Safe Task Force and its partners have reported multiple sweeps and weapons seizures in recent months, reflecting a broader crackdown on repeat offenders and armed crews across the city. The U.S. Marshals Service has been issuing regular updates on that initiative.
The Memphis Police Department has asked anyone with information about this case or related vehicle thefts to contact CrimeStoppers or the department directly, with details available through the Memphis Police Department. The investigation remains active, and detectives say additional arrests or charges could follow as they continue to sift through the evidence.
