Ethan King, a 20-year-old Baltimore resident, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with representatives from the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Baltimore Police Department.
According to court documents, law enforcement observed surveillance footage on February 7, 2024 showing King—who had previously been convicted of a felony—entering a convenience store in Baltimore. While inside, he purchased a Glock 19 handgun equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device from another individual.
Authorities later searched King’s residence on March 15 and recovered the 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, sometimes called “Glock switches,” are used to convert semi-automatic Glock-style pistols into fully automatic firearms.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates efforts among various law enforcement agencies and community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence. In May 2021, the Department of Justice introduced enhancements to this strategy focusing on building trust within communities, supporting local organizations aimed at preventing violence before it occurs, establishing focused enforcement priorities, and tracking outcomes through measurable results (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-launches-violent-crime-reduction-strategy-strengthen-project-safe).
Kelly O. Hayes stated: "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."
Additional information about resources offered by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
