Feds arrest, charge Chelsea felon they say deals machine guns

Lots of gang members get charged with carrying machine guns, but the conversion kits have to come from someone — and the feds and Chelsea Police teamed up to arrest just such a “switches” dealer.

Michael Williams, 49, of Chelsea, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of transferring or possessing a machine gun. He appeared before Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell in federal court in Boston Friday afternoon for an initial appearance and is scheduled to return on Monday.

The charge refers not to possession of an actual machine gun itself, but for Williams allegedly selling a conversion kit, or a “Glock switch,” which would convert a semi-automatic gun into fully automatic firing capability, to undercover FBI agents working with a neighborhood informant in January, according to an affidavit backing up the criminal complaint.

The feds say that Williams met up with the two agents and the “Confidential Human Source,” or CHS, in a vehicle outside his home in Chelsea on Jan. 12.

During a “brief conversation,” Williams allegedly told one of the agent that he had for “clips” loaded there and that he “has more ‘switches’ coming later today and will get you the rest tomorrow,” and that he was so experienced with the devices that he could install one in “two seconds.”

Just as he said, the affidavit alleges, Williams handed over “a plastic bag containing one machinegun conversion device, four firearm magazines, and numerous rounds of ammunition.”

And, to get the other devices he promised, the group returned to his house the next day, during which Williams allegedly sold an agent “two machine conversion devices and firearm accessories for an AR-15 rifle and a Glock pistol,” and offered to install the wares himself.

Williams is a felon with an extensive criminal history including arrests or convictions for breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of ammunition, leaving the scene of personal injury and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, according to a summary compiled in the affidavit.

The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’ office.

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