Beatrice Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Possession of a Machinegun

MOBILE, AL - Jarviuntae Hale, 21, of Beatrice was sentenced to 108 months in prison for unlawful possession of a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a "Glock-switch." A machine gun conversion device is a device which renders a firearm capable of firing multiple rounds of ammunition by a single function of the trigger without manual reloading.

According to court documents, on the evening of Thanksgiving, November 28, 2024, a shooting occurred at a bonfire in Frisco City, Alabama. One individual was killed after being shot multiple times. The suspect was identified as Hale. Witness accounts of the shooting were of a "burst" of fire consistent with that a machine gun. No weapon was ever recovered. A short time later, a search warrant was executed at Hale's residence where a machinegun conversion device was located inside of an empty Glock firearm box under Hale's bed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was notified and continued the investigation leading to Hale's federal indictment.

On April 16, 2026, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a 108-month sentence for possession of the machine gun conversion device and ordered that Hale serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

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

Frisco City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

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

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).