Emanuel Lopez, a 21-year-old resident of Edmond, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for transporting machineguns without a license. The announcement was made by Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
In May and June 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Los Angeles intercepted four packages from China destined for Lopez's home. These packages contained machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), known as "switches," which were mislabeled as "auto parts," "hardware accessories," and "decorative ornaments." MCDs convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns, violating federal law. Lopez was charged on July 2, 2024, by a federal Grand Jury.
Lopez pleaded guilty on November 25, 2024, admitting he knowingly transported machineguns without a license.
U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Lopez on March 5, 2025, to serve his prison term followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Jones emphasized the seriousness of the offense during sentencing.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including CBP, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. It also falls under "Project Switch Off," targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices in the Western District of Oklahoma to mitigate their danger.
Further information can be found in public filings or by visiting https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.