NORFOLK, Va. — A Norfolk man was sentenced Friday to two years and three months in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) and illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Austin Perrine, 33, was convicted following an undercover investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD). On Dec. 15, 2022, Perrine met with undercover agents at a bar in Virginia Beach to discuss dealing in MCDs, which are devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. During the meeting, Perrine displayed two MCDs hidden in his clothing and sold them for $1,000.
Federal authorities later executed a search warrant on Perrine’s Norfolk residence on Jan. 4, 2023. During the search, they recovered two handguns, ammunition, magazines, and various firearm parts. As a previously convicted felon, Perrine is prohibited by law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
“This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat the trafficking of illegal firearms and firearm accessories,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, in a statement. Officials emphasized that MCDs pose a significant risk to public safety due to their ability to transform firearms into illegal machineguns.
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community partnerships. The initiative seeks to target violent offenders and disrupt the flow of illegal firearms into communities.
This investigation and subsequent prosecution involved collaboration between the ATF, VBPD, and the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, who also serves as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, handled the case in federal court.