A Maplewood, Missouri resident has been arrested on allegations of selling machine gun conversion devices. Tanario Darden, 22, was taken into custody on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two felony charges: transporting prohibited weapons without a license and transferring machine guns. The indictment against him was issued on January 22.
According to the indictment, Darden is accused of transporting and selling one or more machine guns between April 1, 2024, and August 30, 2024. It is important to note that charges in an indictment are accusations and do not serve as proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A motion has been filed seeking Darden's detention until trial, alleging he used a social media account to sell machine gun conversion devices (MCDs). These devices, also known as switches or auto sears, can convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, classified as machine guns under federal law.
"These highly dangerous devices can convert a run-of-the-mill firearm into a weapon of war, transforming a street corner into a combat zone, devastating entire communities," stated Special Agent in Charge Bernard G. Hansen of the ATF Kansas City Field Division.
The charge for transporting prohibited weapons carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, while the charge for transferring machine guns carries a possible penalty of ten years.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is handling the prosecution.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by uniting various levels of law enforcement with communities they serve. On May 26, 2021, the Department introduced a strategy to strengthen PSN based on principles such as fostering trust within communities and supporting organizations that work to prevent violence.
