Gregg County man guilty of federal firearms violations in Longview drive-by shooting

TYLER, Texas - A Longview man has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Jamichael Devorea O'Quinn, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a machine gun before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell on May 1, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on May 18, 2024, the Gregg County Sheriff's Office responded to a drive-by, machine-gun shooting of a high school graduation party near Longview. Eyewitnesses and gunshot victims identified O'Quinn as a shooter. Further investigation revealed O'Quinn publicly bragged on a social media platform about his distinctive blue machine gun conversion device, commonly referred to as a Glock Switch, while warning of his willingness to use the weapon.

The attached images of social media posts were presented in court, which included multiple images of a pistol with a distinctive blue machine gun conversion device installed on its slide.

O'Quinn was arrested on July 26, 2024, during a traffic stop in Longview, during which a firearm outfitted with a machine gun conversion device was seized. Ballistic testing confirmed the firearm was the same gun used in the shooting on May 18, 2024.

O'Quinn faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

O'Quinn has also been indicted in Gregg County and charged with murder in an unrelated drive-by shooting. An indictment is not proof of guilt, and a defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

"Our focus in this case was to bring some measure of justice for the victims of this shooting. The illegal possession of a machine gun cannot, and will not, be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. "The families of Longview deserve to live free of fear. My office, federal agents, and local law enforcement will never tire in their efforts to root out and hold accountable those who inflict violence on our communities."

District Attorney John Moore said, "The Gregg County District Attorney's Office is proud to work with our partners to share a strategy that has improved public safety in Gregg County."

"ATF is proud to stand alongside our local, state, and federal partners in bringing this offender to justice. This case highlights the real and growing danger posed by illegal machine gun conversion devices, which turn firearms into extremely lethal weapons. Through strong collaboration and determined investigative work, we were able to hold a violent offender accountable and make our communities safer. We will continue to prioritize cases like this to disrupt criminal activity and protect the public." said Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner

"The Longview Police Department will not tolerate illegal fully automatic weapons in our city," said Longview Police Chief Anthony Boone. "We will continue to utilize every available state and federal resource to combat criminal activity in Longview, Texas. We are thankful for the partnership and support of the Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney's Office."

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Longview Police Department; the Gregg County Sheriff's Office; the Gregg County District Attorney's Office; and the Texas Department of Public Safety. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Farahnak and Emil Mikkelsen.

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