Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Trafficking of Machinegun Conversion Devices

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to illegally selling a dozen machinegun conversion devices.

Elijah Navarro, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business as a manufacturer or dealer in firearms and two counts of transferring or possessing a machinegun. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 13, 2024. Navarro was initially arrested and charged along with co-defendant Michael Wilkerson in February 2023. The defendants were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023. 

In January 2023, Navarro agreed to sell 12 machinegun conversion devices to an individual in exchange for $1,700. Following a series of communications, Navarro met the individual twice at a pre-arranged location. On Jan. 19, 2023, Navarro sold the first two machinegun conversion devices to the individual for $400 and later, on Jan. 25, 2023, sold the remaining 10 devices for an additional $1,300. 

Navarro does not possess a license to import, manufacture, deal or possess firearms.  

The charge of engaging in the business as a manufacturer or dealer in firearms provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. The charge of unlawful transferring or possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael A. Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.