Ethan King, a 20-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to King’s guilty plea, law enforcement officers reviewed surveillance video from February 7, 2024 that showed King entering a convenience store in Baltimore. While inside the store, he purchased a Glock 19 handgun equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device from another individual.
On March 15, authorities conducted a search at King’s residence where they recovered the Glock 19 handgun. The firearm had an extended magazine loaded with 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition as well as a machinegun conversion device. These devices—sometimes called “Glock switches”—can convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic firearms.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local communities. In May 2021, the Department launched an updated strategy for PSN focused on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and measuring outcomes.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the FBI, ATF, and BPD for their roles in investigating this case. She also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tsuei for prosecuting it.
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at justice.gov/usao-md or justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
