Richmond County Men Sentenced to Prison for Federal Firearms Charges (DOJ)

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two Richmond County men have been sentenced to prison after investigators uncovered an illegal firearms accessory importation scheme.

Jafere Deshon Elliott, 23, and Korbynn Jevon Jackson, 23, both of Augusta, each pled guilty to Illegal Importation of Firearms or Ammunition and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, said Margaret E. "Meg" Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen sentenced both defendants to 48 months in prison, and each man also must pay a fine of $2,000 and serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms.

There is no parole in the federal system.

"The extensive collaboration between multiple law enforcement and investigative agencies in this case is a shining example of exemplary police work and was instrumental in holding these criminals accountable," said U.S. Attorney Heap. "These devices have no place on the streets or in the hands of those that would cause harm in the community."

In February 2024, investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were contacted by Homeland Security Investigations agents to inform them that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers intercepted a package shipped from China that contained 13 Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCD's). The MCD's were destined for an apartment in Augusta and agents learned that two weeks prior to the initial seizure, a package addressed to the same address and recipient was intercepted at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

"The illegal importation and possession of machinegun conversion devices pose a significant threat to public safety, and Homeland Security Investigations is proud to have worked alongside our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt this dangerous scheme," said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. "HSI remains committed to protecting our communities by preventing illegal firearms and accessories from reaching our streets and ensuring those who violate federal law are brought to justice."

The investigation found that the defendants would order the MCD's, commonly referred to as 'auto sears,' from a distributor to be packaged as toys and delivered to the defendants' home. The MCDs were analyzed by the ATF and determined to meet the definition of an MCD.

"The interception of these weapon conversion devices demonstrates the vigilance and dedication of our CBP officers in preventing dangerous items from entering our communities," said Gregory Alvarez, Director of Field Operations for CBP's Atlanta Field Office. "Through close collaboration with our federal partners, we are committed to protecting public safety and ensuring those who attempt to circumvent the law are brought to justice."

The case was investigated by the ATF, HSI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.