Source: Office of United States Attorneys
A Columbus resident who was advertising the sale of fully automatic weapons on social media—including ghost guns and machine guns—pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation.
Matthew Azor, 19, pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking before U.S. District Judge Clay Land on Dec. 17. Azor faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Matthew Azor illegally sold machine guns and ghost guns on social media, making the deadliest of weapons readily available to dangerous individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office and law enforcement partners continue to prioritize prosecutions against those responsible for gun violence in Columbus and across the Middle District of Georgia.”
“The illegal trafficking of machine guns and ghost guns poses an unacceptable threat to the safety of our neighborhoods,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “ATF will not waver in its mission to stop dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of criminals and will relentlessly pursue those who profit from this lawlessness.”
“Illegal firearms, especially machine guns and ghost guns, are a direct threat to public safety,” said Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis. “We remain committed to working alongside our federal partners to remove these dangerous weapons from the streets and hold those responsible accountable.”
According to plea agreement and other statements referenced in court, on Jan. 18, investigators with the Columbus Police Department’s Gang Unit contacted Azor, who was advertising Glock switches and firearms equipped with machine gun conversion devices for sale on social media. On Jan. 26, an undercover agent (UC) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) contacted Azor and arranged for the purchase of machine guns. Azor confirmed with the UC that he had firearms which functioned as machine guns available; specifically, an AR pistol and a Glock.
The UC met Azor in Columbus and paid $1,100 for the following: a Glock model 17 9x19mm caliber firearm with an attached switch to convert the semi-automatic pistol to a rapid-fire machinegun; a privately made AR-styled pistol also known as a ghost gun; and three rounds of assorted 9mm ammunition. ATF agents examined the firearms and determined the Glock model 17 was able to fire fully automatic and the ghost gun was semi-automatic. A few weeks later, the UC arranged for the purchase of a fully automatic firearm and a Glock machine gun conversion device (MCD) that Azor claimed he had for sale. On Feb. 29, the UC met Azor and purchased the following: a PA-15 AR-pistol with a loaded magazine and a purported Glock MCD. ATF agents later examined those firearms and determined both were not machine guns.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department’s Gang Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case for the Government.