Second felon headed to prison for firearms offense

HOUSTON – A 39-year-old man has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a converted machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Christopher Victor pleaded guilty Aug. 14, 2023, to possessing a loaded .40 caliber pistol which was located under his seat.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Victor to serve 57 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the violent nature and circumstances of the offense and found Victor had a history of violent conduct, including prior convictions for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm.

Co-conspirator Melvin Wilkins, 41, Houston, pleaded guilty April 7 to unlawful possession of a firearm and was later sentenced to 59 months. At the time of his plea, Wilkins admitted to possessing an AR-15 style rifle between his legs while in the backseat of a vehicle that Victor drove.

Law enforcement discovered the rifle contained an extra part, which they determined to be a “switch.” A switch is an additional part added to a firearm to convert it into a machinegun or firearm that shoots more than one shot without manual reloading.

The rifle contained one round in the chamber and 74 rounds in the magazine. The safety was set to off and the rifle was in the fire position.

As both a machinegun and short barreled rifle, the firearm requires registration to the possessor in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). Authorities verified the firearm had no serial numbers or identification number printed, engraved or stamped on the lower receiver of the rifle. Wilkins cannot register the firearm in the NFRTR without serial numbers or identifying information.

As convicted felons, federal law prohibits Victor and Wilkins from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Victor and Wilkins will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Southeast Crime Suppression Team and Houston Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day prosecuted the case.