Baltimore Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Illegal Firearm Possession

Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore resident has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Ethan King, 20, received the sentence after pleading guilty to the charge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release.

The case, which is part of the federal initiative Project Safe Neighborhoods aimed at reducing violent crime, involved evidence gathered from surveillance footage and a subsequent search of King’s residence. Court documents reveal that on February 7, 2024, law enforcement observed King, who has a prior felony conviction, inside a convenience store in Baltimore. During his time in the store, King was seen acquiring a Glock 19 handgun. This firearm was reportedly equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device.

Later, on March 15, the recovered Glock 19 handgun was found during a search of King’s home. At the time of recovery, the firearm was fitted with the extended magazine, loaded with 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and still possessed the machinegun conversion device. These devices, commonly referred to as “Glock switches,” are designed to modify semi-automatic pistols to fire automatically.

The prosecution highlighted King’s status as a prohibited person, emphasizing the illegal nature of his possession of such a weapon. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the sentence reflects the seriousness of possessing a firearm with modifications capable of increasing its lethality, especially for individuals with previous felony convictions. The Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods, focuses on strengthening community trust, supporting violence prevention efforts, prioritizing enforcement, and measuring outcomes to enhance neighborhood safety. This sentencing is presented as an example of these efforts in practice.

The investigation and subsequent prosecution were a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the agencies for their work in bringing the case to a conclusion. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tsuei led the prosecution of the case.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland.

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