CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - North Carolina, Western), published as received.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Zahari Serdarevic, 22, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for the possession and transfer of a machinegun and a machinegun conversion device, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Serdarevic was also ordered to serve three years under court supervision after he is released from prison.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and statements made in court, on October 5, 2021, Serdarevic illegally possessed and transferred a machinegun, which he sold to a confidential informant (CI) working with law enforcement. During the transfer, Serdarevic explained to the CI that the machinegun was fully automatic and cautioned the CI that the machinegun was illegal to possess. According to court documents, on November 4, 2021, Serdarevic sold the CI an illegal conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” which enables a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic. Federal law prohibits the possession of machineguns and defines “machinegun” to include parts designed or intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun.
On June 15, 2022, Serdarevic pleaded guilty to two counts of possession and transfer of a machinegun. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
