By Michael Phillips | FLBayNews
A convicted felon from South Florida has been sentenced to federal prison after a routine traffic stop in Tallahassee escalated into a foot chase and the discovery of an illegally modified firearm capable of automatic fire.
According to a report published December 28 by KOMO News, Vinson Tavaris Brown, 33, of Homestead, was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to firearms charges tied to the incident.
Traffic Stop Turns Into Federal Case
The case stemmed from a traffic stop outside Zingales Billiards & Sports Bar in Tallahassee, where Tallahassee Police Department officers pulled over a vehicle for making an illegal U-turn. While the other occupants complied with police commands, Brown allegedly reached under his seat and fled on foot.
Officers quickly detained him and later recovered a Glock 27 handgun hidden beneath the passenger seat. The weapon was equipped with a machine gun conversion device—commonly known as a “Glock switch”—along with an extended magazine.
Federal authorities say the device illegally converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon, allowing it to fire an entire magazine in seconds.
Prior Felony Convictions
Brown’s criminal history played a key role in the case. Court records cited in the report indicate he is a convicted felon with prior offenses that include child abuse, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and multiple instances of fleeing law enforcement.
Because of those prior convictions, Brown was legally prohibited from possessing any firearm, regardless of modification.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to two federal charges: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a machine gun.
Federal Prosecutors Cite Public Safety Risks
In a statement included in the report, U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin of the Northern District of Florida praised local and federal law enforcement for preventing a dangerous weapon from remaining on the street.
Federal officials have increasingly warned that machine gun conversion devices—many of which are inexpensive and easy to install—pose a growing threat to public safety. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has repeatedly identified Glock switches as a rising trend in violent crime nationwide.
Under federal law, these devices are classified as machine guns under the National Firearms Act, making civilian possession virtually illegal without rare and tightly restricted registrations.
A Broader Enforcement Push
Although federal statutes allow for significantly longer sentences—up to 25 years combined for the charges Brown faced—his three-year sentence likely reflects factors such as his guilty plea and the absence of additional violent or drug-related charges tied to the arrest.
The case underscores an ongoing federal enforcement push led by the U.S. Department of Justice to crack down on illegal firearm modifications and repeat offenders, particularly as automatic weapon conversion devices become more common in street-level crime.
For Florida communities, law enforcement officials say the outcome represents another example of how seemingly minor traffic violations can prevent far more serious harm when officers uncover illegal weapons before they are used.
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