Cincinnati Man Sentenced for Role in Conspiracy to Sell Machine Guns

COVINGTON, Ky. –  A Cincinnati man, Isaiah M. Smith, 24, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 72 months in prison, for possession and transfer of a machine gun.   

In pleading guilty, Smith admitted to collaborating with Demarco Sturgeon and Denico Hudson to possess and transfer numerous machine gun conversion devices.  Smith also admitted to manufacturing the plastic conversion devices in Ohio, and to selling many of them to Sturgeon in Kentucky.  Sturgeon then sold the bulk of them to Hudson, who would pay for them with money and drugs, and the two of them distributed the devices to members of two violent gangs in Cincinnati.  Members of these gangs were connected to drug trafficking and numerous shootings.

Smith further admitted to distributing over 25 machine gun conversion devices, from 2022 to 2023.  Specifically, on April 4, 2023, law enforcement conducted a search of Smith’s residence and seized a machine gun conversion device, as well as a loaded handgun.  Smith confirmed that he had manufactured and distributed over 80 machine gun conversion devices and assisted agents in seizing the printers and computers he used to make them.

Sturgeon was previously sentenced to 130 months and five years of supervised release; Hudson was sentenced to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

“Machine gun conversion devices are incredibly dangerous, and an acute threat to the safety of our communities,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “Worse yet, they are more prevalent than ever.  By themselves, these devices are illegal machine guns; and when used, they are capable of rapid and appalling damage.  We simply must do everything we can to combat this alarming trend, prioritize the effort to eliminate these devices, and prosecute those who illegally make, possess, and sell them.”

“Machine gun conversion devices are a significant threat to our communities.  Law enforcement in Kentucky and across the United States are encountering them with alarming frequency,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “These conversion devices, which can fire hundreds of rounds of ammunition a minute, are illegal and incredibly dangerous, especially in the hands of gang members and drug dealers.  ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize these investigations with our local partners to shutdown supply channels and keep these deadly devices off our streets.”

Under federal law, Smith and his co-defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences.  Upon his release from prison, Smith will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office three years.    

U.S. Attorney Shier; SAC Morrow; Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force; and Chief Teresa Theetge, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by ATF, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, and Cincinnati Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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