Violent Convicted Felon Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Machinegun and Drug Trafficking Offenses

Memphis, TN – On January 21, 2026, Christopher Walker, 38, of Memphis, was sentenced to 35 years' imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a machinegun during a drug trafficking offense. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing today.

According to court documents, in October 2024, ATF agents conducted an undercover operation targeting the sale of Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCD) and illegal drugs. Walker sold a confidential informant 98 grams of marijuana and a firearm while on duty as a security guard at a local motel. A second buy was conducted in December 2024 where Walker sold a firearm with an attached MCD and 103 grams of marijuana. Walker has prior felony convictions for violent offenses.

After a 3-day jury trial on October 2, 2025, Walker was found guilty of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, carrying a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

On January 21, 2026, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Walker to 421 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Firearms equipped with MCDs are extremely dangerous devices that can cause multiple injuries or fatalities in less than one second. When paired with the inherently dangerous activity of drug trafficking, they demonstrate an unacceptable risk to public safety that justifies a long prison sentence to remove this violent felon from our community.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jermal Blanchard and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Clinton Crosier prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. 

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