Memphis, TN – Tavious Bruce, 21, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for possession of a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device while driving a stolen Porsche SUV. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, law enforcement encountered the defendant inside a stolen Porsche SUV with the license plate removed and replaced by temporary tags registered to a different make and model vehicle. Officers discovered a Glock 9mm pistol fully loaded with an extended magazine and equipped with a machinegun conversion device (“MCD”), commonly known as a “switch,” which rendered the firearm fully automatic, in violation of federal law. Furthermore, the Glock was in the stolen Porsche within defendant’s reach.

Photo of seized firearm.

Though the defendant had no prior felony convictions which prohibited possession of a firearm, Bruce had an extensive pattern of unlawful behavior between ages 17 and 21. Beginning at age 17, the defendant stole a brand‑new car and repeatedly refused to comply with law enforcement during subsequent encounters. Bruce's conduct escalated over time, including fleeing during police encounters, demonstrating a lack of respect for authority. While his federal case was pending, Bruce was involved in a domestic dispute that allegedly turned violent.

The Court found that the defendant’s escalation from stealing a Volkswagen as a juvenile to a Porsche as a young adult reflected increased boldness and disregard for the law and further noted that machinegun conversion devices seem to exist solely to maximize a weapon’s destructive potential and significantly reduce firearm controllability, dramatically increasing the risk to the community.

On September 24, 2026, United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker imposed a sentence of 18 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release, underscoring that probation is not appropriate for serious offenses involving machinegun conversion devices, even when the defendant has no prior convictions. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant stated, “Machinegun conversion devices pose a serious and lethal threat to public safety. This sentence sends a clear message that individuals who possess these dangerous weapons—especially in stolen vehicles and during escalating criminal conduct—will face real federal consequences.”

This case was investigated as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Kesha Zaffino, of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, and Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.###For more information, please contact our Media Relations Team at USATNW.

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