The Gist: Two Clayton County men, Anthony Maseda and Erik Arreola-Torres, have been sentenced to prison after converting semi-automatic firearms into machine guns and selling them out of a local residence.
The operation came to a head when Arreola-Torres fired a machine gun at federal agents and local law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant.
What Happened?: According to federal prosecutors, over a three-month period in early 2022, Maseda, a previously convicted felon, and Arreola-Torres operated a firearm and machine gun trafficking scheme from a home in Jonesboro. Maseda imported illegal “switches” from China to convert firearms into fully automatic machineguns, which were then advertised and sold through a public Instagram account.
During the execution of a search warrant on March 3, 2022, prosecutors say Arreola-Torres opened fire on special agents and police officers from within the home. Despite firing dozens of rounds, no one was injured.
Maseda and Arreola-Torres were subsequently arrested, with law enforcement discovering a cache of firearms and drug paraphernalia within the residence.
By The Numbers:
- 6 fully automatic machineguns found in the residence
- 4 additional switches for converting semi-automatics into machine guns
- 5 other firearms discovered
- Plus, a significant amount of ammunition, firearm parts, bulletproof body armor, marijuana and digital scales
What’s Next?: Maseda and Arreola-Torres have been sentenced to nine and ten years respectively, followed by three years of supervised release.
👮♂️ Gun Crimes in Our Communities: Here are statistics from The Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit meticulously tracking gun incidents.
2023 Statistics:
- Total gun-related incidents: 39,135
- Gun-related deaths (excluding suicides): 18,874
- Gun-related injuries: 36,357
- Mass shootings: 656
2022 Statistics:
- Total gun-related incidents: 42,064
- Gun-related deaths (excluding suicides): 20,200
- Gun-related injuries: 38,500
- Mass shootings: 647
While firearm deaths and injuries saw a slight decline compared to previous years, mass shootings continued to rise, with 2023 surpassing 650 incidents. This underscores the continued severity of gun violence in the U.S.
To Be Clear: These aren’t just digits on a page. Each statistic represents a life affected, a community shaken.
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.
