Missouri felon indicted a second time for illegally possessing silencer, conversion switches to make fully automatic handguns

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A southwestern Missouri man, who was first indicted in May for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, was indicted again Wednesday for illegally possessing an unregistered silencer, and selector switches, which are used to convert semi-automatic firearms into automatic weapons.

The superseding indictment resulted from an investigation by the following agencies:  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Newton (Missouri) Sheriff’s Department.

Leng Lee, 35, of Sarcoxie, Missouri, was charged in a three-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. The superseding indictment replaces an initial indictment returned on May 7, which charged Lee with being a felon illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.

In addition to the original charges, the latest indictment also charges Lee with one count of illegally possessing a device designed to convert a semi-automatic Glock-type pistol into an automatic weapon, and one count of illegally possessing an unregistered silencer. The indictment alleges that Lee illegally possessed a Glock 10mm pistol, two Glock 9mm pistols, and numerous rounds of ammunition.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers participated in the controlled delivery of an international mail package from China addressed to Lee at his residence on April 23. The parcel contained seven parts (selector switches) used to convert a Glock semi-automatic pistol to fire in fully automatic mode.

Officers executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence and found numerous firearms, ammunition, firearm suppressors, suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, suspected stolen farm equipment, and a large amount of cash. Lee told officers that he received 10 to15 past deliveries of the selector switches, and that he converted and successfully fired a Glock pistol as a fully automatic firearm.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to possess any firearm or ammunition. Lee has two prior felony convictions for burglary, and prior felony convictions for vandalism, criminal conspiracy, grand theft, and being a felon possessing a firearm.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney, Western District of Missouri.