Citronelle Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Possessing a Machinegun

MOBILE, AL - A Citronelle man was sentenced to 12 months in prison for illegally possessing a machinegun. According to court documents, on February 15, 2026, officers with the Mobile Police Department were conducting enhanced patrols in downtown Mobile during Mardi Gras parades and festivities. During the operation, officers arrested Kelvin Barnes, Jr., 29, for possessing a machinegun conversion device.

A machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a "Glock switch," is designed to convert a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic machinegun, allowing the firearm to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.