Two men have been sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison for federal firearms crimes in the United States. Daniel Kirtman, 25, received an eight year sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession and transfer of a short-barrel rifle. Michael Thomas, 24, was given a seven year sentence for possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.
According to information presented in court, in June 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Multi-Agency Gang Unit investigated individuals who were illegally possessing firearms and machine gun conversion devices.
On two separate occasions, Thomas sold machine gun conversion devices, known as “Glock switches.” On another occasion, Kirtman, a convicted felon, sold a short-barrel rifle. Agents arrested Thomas and seized an AR-style pistol. Agents also arrested Kirtman and seized a Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device. During the investigation, agents purchased and seized 10 firearms from Kirtman and Thomas.
On June 29, 2022, Thomas pled guilty to possessing a machinegun and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On August 26, 2022, Kirtman pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing and transferring a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act.
On December 1, 2022, United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Thomas to 84 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. On December 7, 2022, Judge McCalla sentenced Kirtman to 102 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Allen, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.