TEXAS CITY — Jaleel Filer, 32, of Texas City, Texas, pleaded guilty to possessing and transferring a machine gun. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge ordered Filer to serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck announced the sentencing. A law enforcement investigation into Filer's involvement in the sale of firearms and machine gun conversion devices began in January 2023.
Machine gun conversion devices are illegal to possess and convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. Authorities conducted multiple undercover purchases of firearms and conversion devices from Filer over a five-month period during the investigation. On January 6, Filer sold two firearms, one of which was fitted with a conversion device, for approximately $2,200. The firearm sold with the conversion device functioned as a machine gun.
Filer indicated he could supply additional conversion devices for $100 each. Law enforcement later intercepted more than 50 devices that Filer had arranged to sell during a final transaction. Filer was released on bond during the investigation and was taken into custody after his sentencing, where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.