Man Charged With Possession Of Machine Gun On New York Street (DOJ)

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF"), Bryan DiGirolamo, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging DAVID MALDONADO in connection with a November 14, 2025, daytime shooting in which MALDONADO fired 12 rounds from a machine gun on a public street in the Bronx. MALDONADO was arrested and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

"As alleged, David Maldonado used a machine gun conversion device to spray bullets on a Bronx street," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "New Yorkers want brazen, gun toting criminals off our streets and we hear them. Thanks to the prompt response of our law enforcement partners, Maldonado will now have to answer for his alleged crimes."

"The ATF/NYPD Crime Gun Enforcement Team is committed to keeping illegal machine guns out of the hands of criminals and away from our communities," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. "We thank the New York City Police Department and the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for their continued partnership in keeping the public safe."

"David Maldonado allegedly put New Yorkers at serious risk when he fired a fully automatic ghost gun in broad daylight on a public street, while NYPD detectives were nearby," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "Our detectives did exactly what they do best-they ran toward the danger, moved quickly to stop the threat, and our streets are safer because of their actions. I thank the NYPD investigators, our partners at the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their continued work to hold violent offenders accountable."

As alleged in the Indictment, and in public statements made in public court proceedings:[1]

On or about November 14, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., MALDONADO, who has been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, discharged a machine gun in the vicinity of East 170^th Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx, including two shots that struck a nearby vehicle.

Detectives of the NYPD, who were in the vicinity of the gunshots, spotted and promptly apprehended MALDONADO, who was in possession of an unserialized Polymer 80, model PF940C, 9x19mm caliber firearm, also known as a "ghost gun." During the shooting, MALDONADO used a semi-automatic handgun with an illegal machine gun conversion device installed, which converted his firearm into a fully automatic machine gun capable of shooting more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger. Photographs of the firearm and magazine seized from MALDONADO and the conversion device that was installed on the pistol slide are below:

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MALDONADO, 53, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of possession of ammunition after felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of possession of a machine gun, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and the ATF.

This case is being handled by the Office's Violent Organizations & Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution.

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