SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Castor couple pleaded guilty to charges related to converting a rifle into a machine gun.
Michael Deen Reeves, 58, and Crissy Lawson Reeves, 37, of Castor, La., and who are married pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote. Michael Reeves pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing an unregistered firearm, and Crissy Reeves pleaded guilty to one count of transferring an unregistered firearm. According to the guilty pleas, a cooperating witness informed law enforcement officials that he had met with Michael and Crissy Reeves in October of 2015 to purchase a fully automatic SKS rifle. They negotiated a price, and Crissy Reeves agreed to retrieve a previously pawned rifle from a pawn shop in Natchitoches, La. Law enforcement recorded the defendants on October 30, 2016 in their home selling the rifle to the witness. Law enforcement agents also recorded Michael Reeves converting the Norinco SKS 7.62 x 39 mm rifle to a fully automatic rifle.
They face up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture of the seized items and a $10,000 fine. A sentencing date of January 20, 2017 was set.
This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.
The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Drucker is prosecuting the case.