Five men charged in largest seizure of machine gun conversion devices in Central Alabama history

Federal prosecutors say five men face charges after the largest single seizure of machine gun conversion devices in the Middle District of Alabama.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson said four of the men face federal charges, while the fifth faces state charges.

Machine gun conversion devices are small and illegally convert semi-automatic guns into fully automatic weapons. These devices are classified as machine guns under federal law, even if not installed on a gun.

Davidson said a federal grand jury has indicted 22-year-old Maceo Levar Edwards and 22-year-old Elliott Arjuna Turner, both of Montgomery, charging them with the illegal possession of 53 machine gun conversion devices and the unlawful transfer of a federally regulated firearm.

According to the indictment and other court records, the charges stem from an April 3, 2025, operation during which Edwards and Turner were allegedly found with the illegal devices after leaving a home in Montgomery.

Later that day, Davidson said agents made contact with 24-year-old Jemarion Fe’Qon Lausane at the same home. Lausane was arrested and faces federal charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On April 25, 22-year-old Ke’Marcus Simmons of Selma, was charged with the federal crime of illegal possession of a machine gun.

In a related development, Davidson said Jalen Rodgers is facing state charges for the possession of machine gun conversion devices following the execution of a search warrant at his home in Repton, which is in Conecuh County. The search of Rodgers home was part of the investigation that began on April 3.

This investigation was led by the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit, a multi-agency task force that includes personnel from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and ATF.

If convicted on all charges, Edwards, Turner, and Simmons each face up to 10 years in federal prison. Lausane faces a sentence ranging from five years to life. There is no parole in the federal system.

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher P. Moore is prosecuting the four federal cases.

— Information from the Office of the U.S. Attorney of the Middle District of Alabama