Ethan King, a 20-year-old resident of Baltimore, Maryland, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to King's guilty plea, on February 7, 2024, law enforcement reviewed surveillance footage showing King—who had a prior felony conviction—entering a convenience store in Baltimore. Inside the store, he purchased a Glock 19 handgun equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device from another individual.
On March 15, law enforcement conducted a search at King’s residence and recovered the same Glock 19 handgun. The firearm was found with an extended magazine loaded with 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition and fitted with a machinegun conversion device. These devices are designed to convert semi-automatic Glock-style pistols into fully automatic firearms.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates efforts between law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. In May 2021, the Department introduced new strategies for PSN focused on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes through measurable results. More information about this program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
Kelly O. Hayes expressed appreciation for the work done by FBI agents, ATF agents, and BPD officers during the investigation. “U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, ATF, and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tsuei who prosecuted this case.”
Further details about resources provided by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office are available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md.
