A federal judge in Memphis has sentenced Actavious Ellis to 87 months in prison for possessing a machine gun. The announcement was made by Reagan Taylor Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
Court documents reveal that on August 17, 2023, detectives from the Memphis Police Department executed search warrants at two locations. They found Ellis in possession of multiple stolen firearms, including a 9mm Glock pistol with a conversion device making it fully automatic. Additionally, Ellis had large-capacity magazines and pill presses used for manufacturing pills containing illegal substances. After his arrest, Ellis attempted to bribe someone to falsely claim ownership of these substances.
In November 2024, Ellis pled guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun. On March 11, 2025, United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced him to federal imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Federal sentences do not allow parole.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The program focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
The investigation was conducted by the Memphis Police Department Drug Response Team and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force. Acting United States Attorney Fondren expressed gratitude towards Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite who prosecuted the case and thanked law enforcement partners involved in the investigation.
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