A Greenville man has been sentenced to serve over two years in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun following a string of violent crimes.
Johnny Watkins, 19, was identified as a suspect in the crimes through his social media account, which showed evidence of him bragging about gang activity, posing with numerous firearms and illicit narcotics, and threatening rival gang members.
Law enforcement then executed a search warrant on his residence, recovering a Glock 10mm pistol with a 23-round magazine. Attached to the Glock pistol was a machinegun conversion device (MCD) commonly referred to as a “switch.”
In addition to possession of a machine gun, the district court considered Watkin’s use of firearms in other related crimes, including the shooting of a Greenville Police Department officer’s residence.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown has since sentenced Watkins to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“The proliferation of these devices presents a clear and present danger to Mississippians,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We hope that this sentence sends a clear message that those who engage in criminal activity will be held accountable for their illegal acts and for their use and possession of automatic weapons.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Greenville Police Department investigated the case.
