FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
FEBRUARY 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF
AN UNREGISTERED MACHINE GUN
Baltimore, Maryland - Stephen Estep, age 27, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession of an unregistered machine gun, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to the plea agreement, on February 5, 2006 Anne Arundel County Police were called to the Pit Stop Pub in Baltimore for a report of shots fired. Officers recovered twelve 9 mm shell casings in the parking lot, and witnesses reported a machine gun was used to fire the shots. No one was injured, although two vehicles were damaged. After further investigation, police went to an apartment on Wood Lake Court in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Estep was located inside the apartment hiding in a closet. Officers recovered a MAC 10, 9mm caliber machine gun in a black plastic trash bag. Estep had not registered the machine gun, as he was required to do under federal law. Witnesses identified Estep as the shooter of the machine gun in the parking lot.
Estep faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, although as part of the guilty plea the parties have agreed that a sentence of seven years in prison is appropriate. U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis has scheduled sentencing for April 13, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Anne Arundel County Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Gallagher, who is prosecuting the case.