Kevin P. Davidson, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama
Federal charges have been brought against four men in Alabama in connection with a significant seizure of machinegun conversion devices, marking the largest of its kind in the Middle District of Alabama. A fifth person is facing state charges for related offenses.
Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson, together with Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor, made the announcement.
Machinegun conversion devices are classified as machineguns under federal law due to their capability to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, despite their small size and ease of concealment.
Maceo Levar Edwards and Elliott Arjuna Turner, both 22 and from Montgomery, stand accused of illegal possession of 53 such devices and the unlawful transfer of a federally regulated firearm, following an operation on April 3, 2025. That same day, authorities arrested Jemarion Fe’Qon Lausane, 24, at a residence linked to the investigation, charging him with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Subsequently, Ke’Marcus Simmons, aged 22 from Selma, Alabama, was charged with illegal possession of a machinegun. In a separate state case, Jalen Rodgers faces charges for possessing machinegun conversion devices after a search at his home in Repton.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit, comprising members from various law enforcement agencies including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF.
All parties involved are considered innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, Edwards, Turner, and Simmons may face up to 10 years in federal prison. Lausane's charges could result in sentences ranging from five years to life, with no parole available in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher P. Moore will prosecute the federal cases. These prosecutions fall under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at curbing illegal immigration, dismantling criminal organizations, and safeguarding communities from violent crime.
