A Columbus man has pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms, including a machine gun, following an investigation by Project Safe Neighborhoods. Matthew Azor, 19, admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Clay Land on December 17. He faces up to 15 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be decided by the court without parole options.
"Matthew Azor illegally sold machine guns and ghost guns on social media, making the deadliest of weapons readily available to dangerous individuals," stated U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. He emphasized the focus on prosecuting those contributing to gun violence in Columbus and the Middle District of Georgia.
ATF Assistant Special Agent Beau Kolodka expressed concern over illegal firearm trafficking: "The illegal trafficking of machine guns and ghost guns poses an unacceptable threat to the safety of our neighborhoods." He affirmed ATF's commitment to preventing these weapons from reaching criminals.
Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis highlighted the threat posed by such firearms: "Illegal firearms, especially machine guns and ghost guns, are a direct threat to public safety." He assured continued collaboration with federal partners to remove these threats.
Court documents reveal that investigators contacted Azor through his social media ads for Glock switches and firearms equipped with conversion devices. An undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arranged purchases with Azor for various weapons including a Glock model 17 with a conversion switch and an AR-styled pistol known as a ghost gun.
These transactions are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which unites law enforcement at all levels with communities to curb violent crime and enhance neighborhood safety. The Department of Justice launched a strategy on May 26, 2021, strengthening PSN based on community trust-building principles.
The case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department’s Gang Unit alongside ATF agents. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is leading the prosecution for this case.