BEAUMONT, Texas—A Nacogdoches man was sentenced to two years in federal prison this week after pleading guilty to unlawfully possessing a machinegun conversion device (MCD).
Adolfo Cruz, 27, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machinegun and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison on September 22, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
The arrest occurred on April 10, 2024, when local law enforcement in Lufkin conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Cruz. An officer noticed a gun case and, after a brief exchange, a firearm fell out of the case. During a subsequent pat-down search of Cruz, the officer discovered an MCD.
MCDs are small mechanisms that can be attached to a semi-automatic weapon, instantly converting it into a fully automatic machinegun. Federal law strictly defines and prohibits such weapons.
A search warrant for Cruz's cell phone later uncovered messages discussing the buying and selling of firearms, including MCDs.
The case was investigated by the Lufkin Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
