United States of America v. Erick Marquez Cruz

Newark, New Jersey, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession of a machine gun by a person not legally in the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(o)(l).

MCDs, which themselves are classified as machineguns by statute, are capable of converting semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons that release multiple rounds of ammunition with the single pull of a trigger.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge of possession of a machinegun carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant as a result of the offense, or twice the gross loss to a person other than the defendant as a result of the offense, whichever is greatest.