CAMDEN, N.J. — An Atlantic County man was charged with possessing unregistered machine guns and other items following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark investigation that took place in coordination with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Somers Point Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Newark.
Michael John James, 30, of Somers Point, is charged by complaint with one count of possessing unregistered machine guns and other firearms as defined under the National Firearms Act. He appeared before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Camden and was detained May 15.
“Illegal weapons such as those seized from Michael John James pose a very serious risk to the safety of the American public,” said HSI Newark acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker. “HSI, along with our partner agencies and prosecutors, are resolved to keep dangerous illegal firearms out of our communities.”
According to the investigation, in February, U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel intercepted two packages that contained suspected controlled substances and were addressed to James’ residence. On Feb. 27, 2024, investigators conducted a controlled delivery of the packages, observed James bring the packages into his residence, and executed a search warrant at the residence, where they recovered dozens of firearms and ballistics items. Among the recovered items were three operable machine guns, an operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard rifle, an operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard shotgun, and three silencers.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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