Milwaukee Felon Indicted for Illegally Importing Machinegun Conversion Devices and Other Firearm Related Offenses

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 14, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Demario M. Robinson (age: 21) of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.  The indictment charges Robinson with three counts of purchasing and receiving machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) that had been illegally imported into the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 545.

According to a criminal complaint previously issued in the case, the MCDs (commonly known as “switches”) converted semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firing machine guns. The complaint further alleged that Robinson had purchased and received hundreds of MCDs between July 2022 and June 2023.  If convicted of any of the three importation charges, Robinson would face a 20-year maximum term of imprisonment.

The indictment also alleges that on June 20, 2023, Robinson possessed a machine gun, namely a Glock 9mm handgun that had been converted to firing automatically, and that he possessed a firearm despite being a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 922(g)(1). Finally, the indictment also charges Robinson with possession with intent to distribute marijuana on June 20, 2021, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). 

If convicted, Robinson would be subject to a ten-year maximum term of imprisonment for the possession of machinegun offense and 15-year maximum term of imprisonment for the felon-in-possession charge.  If convicted of the drug offense, Robinson would face a five-year maximum prison term.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Roach and Michael Schindhelm.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant has pled not guilty, is presumed innocent, and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.   

# # #

For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer

Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

414-297-1700

Follow us on Twitter