Oklahoma City Man to Serve 24 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun

Defendant Forfeits 194 Firearms, More Than Three Tons of Ammunition,

Nearly $470,000 in Cash, and a Machinegun Conversion Device

OKLAHOMA CITY – PHILLIP NILES MARTIN, 69, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison for firearms trafficking and unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

According to public record, Martin was the subject of two previous Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigations for similar conduct. In 2013, Martin received a verbal warning for dealing firearms without a license and was advised that even with a license he could not deal firearms at an Oklahoma City swap meet.  In 2020, he acknowledged receipt of an ATF cease-and-desist letter after a firearm that he had purchased was recovered at a crime scene in Mexico.

Public record further reflects that in June 2022, ATF received multiple tips that Martin was illegally dealing in firearms at an Oklahoma City swap meet. An investigation revealed that Martin was still dealing firearms without a license and sold firearms at significantly inflated rates – approximately double retail price – without completing the background checks required by law.

Pursuant to a search warrant executed at Martin’s residence, agents seized 194 firearms, approximately 6,100 pounds of ammunition, approximately $469,520 in cash, and a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch,” which when installed, converts a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun. Possession of these devices violates federal law.

On February 16, 2024, Martin was charged by Information with a conspiracy to illegally traffic firearms and with unlawful possession of a machinegun.

Martin pleaded guilty to the Information on March 11, 2024, and admitted he knowingly conspired with others to traffic firearms and that he illegally possessed a machinegun conversion device. Martin also agreed to forfeit all 194 firearms, the ammunition, approximately $469,520 in cash, and the machinegun conversion device.

At the sentencing hearing on October 23, 2024, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Martin to serve 24 months in federal prison, followed by three years in supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Dishman noted the seriousness of the offenses and the fact that Martin had not been deterred from such conduct by prior warnings from law enforcement.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is also part of “Project Switch Off,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of PSN. “Project Switch Off” targets illegal machinegun conversion devices to address the significant danger these illegal devices present and to remove them from our streets. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.

Reference is made to public filings for more information.