A Tulsa man pleaded guilty Monday to four firearms charges, including illegally possessing and manufacturing machine guns and silencers, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.
Christopher Joseph Kiss, 29, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal possession of a machine gun, making unregistered machine guns and silencers, and possession of unregistered silencers. The case is being prosecuted as part of the Justice Department’s Project Guardian, a nationwide initiative leveraging critical law enforcement partnerships to enforce federal firearms laws. The initiative was announced by the Attorney General in November 2019.
“Firearms that have been illegally modified to fire in fully-automatic mode pose a serious risk to public safety. Individuals who illegally possess these modified firearms in Oklahoma will meet a federal prosecutor in a court of law. Christopher Kiss learned this the hard way," said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “He modified and possessed firearms, silencers, and nearly 100 pounds of ammunition, and in doing so threatened the safety of our community."
In his plea agreement, Kiss, a felon, admitted that he possessed, manufactured, and modified multiple firearms. Kiss possessed a.25 auto caliber pistol and a container with a sampling of 95 pounds of ammunition. He also possessed a homemade Glock-style.22 caliber pistol equipped with a Glock switch that enabled the pistol to fire in fully-automatic mode. In addition, investigators discovered an AR-15 style short-barreled 9 mm rifle that Kiss modified to fire in fully-automatic mode. The defendant further illegally manufactured at least four silencers and possessed a total of 26 silencers. In his statement, Kiss agreed that he failed to properly register these machine guns and silencers in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
“Mr. Kiss is a convicted felon prohibited from manufacturing, possessing, transferring or shipping firearms and ammunition," stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “His disregard of the Gun Control and National Firearms Acts impacts every community by placing firearms into commerce illegally, sidestepping required background checks and impeding law enforcement efforts to trace and investigate recovered firearms and devices."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark R. Morgan is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Project Guardian draws upon the Justice Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This includes taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
