Richmond resident sentenced to 4 years in prison for illegal machinegun possession
Richmond, Virginia – Perry Ike Mason, a 29-year-old from Richmond, Virginia, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for possessing a machine gun, as announced by key legal and law enforcement officials. The sentencing followed his arrest and subsequent plea regarding activities that included brandishing the weapon during a live social media broadcast.
Arrest and Evidence Gathering
Court documents reveal that on April 7, 2023, Mason was seen on a social media livestream entering a vehicle and extracting a .40 caliber handgun from his jacket. This handgun was not just any firearm—it was modified with a machine gun conversion device (MCD), equipped with a weapon-mounted laser and an extended magazine, transforming it into a fully automatic weapon. The incident caught the attention of the Richmond Police Department (RPD) detectives due to Mason’s prior criminal record and an existing arrest warrant from Chesterfield County dating back to August 2022 for unlawful firearm possession by a felon.
The livestream provided law enforcement with a lead on Mason’s whereabouts, which was pinpointed to a restaurant at Chesterfield Towne Center. Detectives followed him from the restaurant to a residence on Kimrod Road in Richmond, where Mason was observed entering a shed. It was here that officers made the arrest based on the outstanding warrant.
Upon searching the shed, detectives recovered the incriminating firearm still loaded with 31 rounds in the extended magazine and one in the chamber. The installed MCD confirmed the weapon’s capability for fully automatic fire, a serious federal offense given Mason’s status as a convicted felon.
Legal Proceedings and Broader Implications
Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne handed down the sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz, reflecting a collaborative effort among federal and state law enforcement agencies.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Washington Field Division, highlighted the significance of this case under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. This nationwide program aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through community and law enforcement collaboration, focusing on the most pressing cases involving firearms.
The sentencing of Mason underscores ongoing efforts to tackle gun violence and enhance public safety by removing illegal firearms from the community and prosecuting those involved in such activities.
