Columbia Man Sentenced for Machine Gun Conversion Device
Deshawn Anthony Harris, 21, received 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough sentenced Deshawn Anthony Harris, a 21-year-old Columbia, Missouri man, to 60 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a machine gun. Harris pleaded guilty to one count and must serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.
Why it matters
The case shows federal prosecutors pursuing illegal machine gun possession, including devices that convert semi-automatic firearms to fully automatic fire. The sentence reflects the federal government's focus on reducing gun violence in local communities.
Harris was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and must serve three years of supervised release after completing his term. The extraction does not state whether he has begun serving the sentence or whether any appeal is pending.
The players
Stephen R. Bough
U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Missouri who imposed the sentence on Harris.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Federal law enforcement agency that investigated the machine gun conversion device case alongside local police.
The details
Officers stopped Harris's vehicle in Columbia on April 4, 2025, and during a search located a Glock-style firearm with a machine gun conversion device attached, loaded with a round in the chamber and 19 rounds in an extended magazine. The Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer prosecuted the case.
Timeline
April 4, 2025: Harris was pulled over and arrested in Columbia.
November 4, 2026: Harris was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.
Legal Context
The sentence applies federal restrictions on machine guns, which generally bar civilian possession of fully automatic weapons and conversion devices. Federal prosecutors have increasingly pursued conversion device cases as these devices have become more common in local crime.
Residents of Columbia and Boone County may see continued federal and local enforcement against illegal firearm modifications. The case reflects ongoing law enforcement efforts to remove conversion devices from local streets.
The takeaway
Illegal machine gun conversion devices carry serious federal penalties, and cases like this one show prosecutors treating them as a priority. Anyone with knowledge of unlawful firearm modifications can report them to local police or the ATF.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Law Enforcement in Columbia.
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