Atlantic County Man Admits Possessing Unregistered Machineguns and Other Items

CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing unregistered machineguns and other items, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Michael John James, 30, of Somers Point, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Keil to an information charging him with possessing unregistered machineguns and other firearms, as defined under the National Firearms Act.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In February 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at James’ residence, where they recovered dozens of firearms and ballistics items. Among the recovered items were three operable machine guns, an operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard rifle, an operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard shotgun, and three silencers.  James admitted that he possessed all of the items recovered from his residence. James also admitted 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 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 30, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; personnel from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds; and officers of the Somers Point Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert C. Somers, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Waegener and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.