Somers Point, NJ, man admits possessing unregistered machineguns

A Somers Point man is now facing upto a decade in prison after admitting to having unregistered machineguns.

On Tuesday, 30-year-old Michael John James pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing unregistered machineguns and other firearms, as defined under the National Firearms Act.

According to federal authorities, this past February, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at James’ home, where they recovered dozens of firearms and ballistics items.

Among the recovered items were the following:

• Three operable machine guns
• Operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard rifle
• Operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard shotgun
• Three silencers

James admitted that he possessed all of the items recovered from his residence and that these machine guns and other firearms were operable when he possessed them.

The charge to which James pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 30th.

U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-Newark Field Division; Homeland Security Investigations-Newark; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office; and the Somers Point Police Department for their work in thus case.