Albuquerque –
An Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty to federal firearm and drug trafficking charges, including possessing and selling a machine gun.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2024, 20-year-old Micah Maestas Federal Indictment and Plea Deal and two accomplices sold three grams of cocaine for $100 and a firearm equipped with a machine gun conversion device for $1,200 to an undercover officer. During the transaction, Maestas also had a second firearm in his possession. We initially wrote about Maestas in September of 2024, you can read our story below.
In another incident on May 9, 2024, Maestas and two others met with the undercover officer to sell a rifle for $1,100. They also offered additional firearms, including ones fitted with machine gun conversion devices. Despite the buyer stating he was a felon, Maestas proceeded with the sale.
The final transaction occurred on July 3, 2024, when Maestas met with the undercover officer alone and sold him a firearm outfitted with an “Invisible Switch” machine gun conversion device for $1,300. Maestas admitted to installing the device himself, fully aware that it would convert the semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon.
Upon sentencing, Maestas faces a minimum of five years and up to 25 years in prison, followed by a supervised release period ranging from five years to life.
The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF, with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting.
PATREON MEMBERS CAN READ THE FULL INDICTMENT AND PLEA DEAL HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/micah-maestas-122282258
Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are illegal components that modify semi-automatic firearms, allowing them to fire continuously with a single trigger pull. Possessing, manufacturing, or selling these devices without proper authorization is a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
The growing availability of these devices presents a severe and urgent threat to public safety. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of machine gun conversion devices, signaling a troubling rise in their use. Violent street gangs are increasingly relying on them, unleashing unprecedented firepower that devastates communities.
This surge in illegal automatic weapons endangers both civilians and law enforcement officers. Responding officers risk being outmatched by weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute, heightening the potential for mass casualties.
Law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to intercept these devices before they can be used in violent crimes. Public cooperation is vital in this effort. If you have information about illegal firearms or conversion devices, please contact the ATF immediately:
Call: 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477)
Email: ATFTips@atf.gov
Visit: www.atf.gov/atf-tips
Your tip could save lives and prevent these dangerous weapons from reaching the wrong hands. Now is the time to act—before our communities suffer the devastating consequences of illegal automatic firearms.