Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Machine Gun Used In November Bronx Shooting

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that DAVID MALDONADO pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff to possessing a machine gun in connection with a November 14, 2025, daytime shooting during which MALDONADO fired 12 rounds from a machinegun on a public street in the Bronx, New York.

"The illegal possession of a machine gun is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "The families of New York City deserve to live free of fear from the type of gun violence these weapons can unleash. The women and men of this Office will never tire in their efforts to root out and hold accountable those who would bring this type of violence to our communities."

As alleged in the Indictment, and in public statements made in court proceedings:[1]

On or about November 14, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., MALDONADO, who has been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, discharged a machine gun in the vicinity of East 170^th Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx, including two shots that struck a nearby vehicle.

Detectives of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), who were in the vicinity of the gunshots, spotted and promptly apprehended MALDONADO, who was in possession of an un-serialized Polymer 80, model PF940C, 9x19mm caliber firearm, also known as a "ghost gun." During the shooting, MALDONADO used a semi-automatic handgun with an illegal machine gun conversion device installed, which converted his firearm into a fully automatic machine gun capable of shooting more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger. Photographs of the firearm and magazine seized from MALDONADO and the conversion device that was installed on the pistol slide are below:

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MALDONADO, 53, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of possession of a machine gun, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This case is being handled by the Office's Violent Organizations & Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution.