Four Luzerne County Men Charged in Machinegun Trafficking Conspiracy

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Shaitq Crum, age 27, Nasir Shelton, age 24, Alphonse Bartiromo, age 18, and Brendan Shadle, age 23, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on machinegun trafficking and firearms charges. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Crum, Shelton, Bartiromo, and Shadle conspired to possess and transfer machineguns and machinegun conversion devices. A machinegun conversion device is gun part designed and intended to convert a firearm into a machinegun, allowing it to function as a fully automatic weapon. The indictment alleges the co-conspirators dealt in two types of machinegun conversion devices, that is, what are known as “Glock switches” and “auto-sears.”

The indictment further alleges that the co-conspirators obtained machineguns from multiple sources before selling them for profit, as well as manufacturing machinegun conversion devices themselves using a 3D printer. The indictment also charges several firearms trafficking offenses involving various firearms including an AR-15 pistol with an obliterated serial number and multiple privately made firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns.”

 “According to the charges, these defendants were responsible for manufacturing and distributing weapons and conversion devices capable of fueling significant violence in our communities,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Those who manufacture and traffic in these weapons and devices are contributing directly to the cycle of violent crime, and they will be pursued aggressively. I want to thank the women and men of the Steamtown Safe Streets Task Force and all of our law enforcement partners whose dedication and professionalism made today’s announcement possible. Your efforts are making our communities safer.”

“Firearms trafficking puts guns into the hands of the criminals who strike our communities,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “In this case those firearms included weapons designed to prevent their tracing, an illegal machinegun, and dangerous machinegun conversion devices that switch handguns into automatic fire weapons. Working with our law enforcement partners and using ATF’s unique capabilities, we helped expose this dangerous enterprise and will continue to work together to keep our Commonwealth’s communities safe from the dangers of firearms trafficking.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The indictment charges 21 counts of firearms offenses. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses ranges from 5 to 15 years of imprisonment per count, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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