GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The FBI is searching for a 23-year-old Grand Rapids man who is among 11 men facing drug and firearm charges.
Seven out of the 11 men are facing charges related to the possession and transfer of “switches” that turn semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic machineguns, prosecutors said.
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Five of the men were arrested Thursday (Dec. 15) morning and another five were already in custody on prior charges.
Eric Williams, 23, has been charged with “conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun.” The FBI believes Williams is either in Benton Harbor or Grand Rapids.
According to prosecutors, a switch can be installed with little knowledge and only takes around one minute. Once installed, it can enable a semi-automatic pistol to fire over 1,000 rounds per minute with a single trigger pull.
“Conversion devices are not simple firearms parts or metal accessories, as commonly advertised. When a person uses an illegally converted weapon that shoots multiple rounds by a single function, it poses an even more serious threat to public safety,” said Craig Kailimai, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Detroit Field Division. “The collaborative effort and commitment between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our Federal, State of Michigan, and Local partners to investigate and prosecute these cases protects our communities from this violent threat.”
Anyone who has any information about where Williams is located should contact the United States Marshals Service at 616-456-2438.
| Name | Resident | Age | Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evorion Anderson | Benton Harbor | 20 | Distribution of methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine |
| Jayvon Anthony | Benton Harbor | 21 | Possession or transfer of a machinegun; conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun; felon in possession of a firearm |
| Earl Austin IV | Benton Harbor | 21 | Distribution of methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession or transfer of a machinegun; conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun |
| Quincy Bowman | Benton Harbor | 25 | Conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun |
| Omarion Branch | Benton Harbor | 19 | Felon in possession of a firearm |
| Torez Burnett | Benton Harbor | 20 | Conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun |
| Nicholas Hallo | Grand Rapids | 32 | Felon in possession of a firearm |
| Demetrius Seuell | Benton Harbor | 22 | Possession or transfer of a machine gun and conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun |
| Timothy Thomas | Benton Harbor | 25 | Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition |
| Armando Villanueva | Grand Rapids | 22 | Conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun |
| Eric Williams | Grand Rapids | 23 | Conspiracy to possess or transfer a machinegun |