U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber | U.S. Department of Justice
A Richmond man has been sentenced to four years in prison for possessing a machinegun, following a social media livestream incident. Perry Ike Mason, 29, displayed the weapon during a livestream on April 7, 2023. He was seen removing a .40 caliber handgun with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), laser, and extended magazine from his jacket.
Richmond Police Department detectives identified Mason from the video and were aware of an outstanding arrest warrant against him for unlawful firearm possession by a felon in August 2022. After Mason posted another video with the same firearm, police located him at Chesterfield Towne Center. Officers followed him to a residence on Kimrod Road in Richmond where they arrested him.
During their search of the shed behind the residence, detectives found the firearm loaded with 31 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. The MCD enabled fully automatic fire.
The announcement came from Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne delivered sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz prosecuted this case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This program unites law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
Further details are available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER by searching Case No. 3:23-cr-131.
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