Chicago rapper Isaiah Dukes, also known by his stage name “Lil Zay Osama,” has been hit with a 14-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of possessing a machinegun. United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison delivered the verdict as well as a $10,000 fine at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, setting a tough precedent for those caught with illegal firearms. The rapper was arrested in September last year when he inadvertently left a modified Glock, complete with an illegal switch, in a rideshare vehicle.
According to the statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Dukes carried the modified weapon from a Manhattan hotel to a recording studio in Queens. The possession of any device that turns a handgun into a fully automatic weapon, such as the switch found on Dukes’ Glock, is a grave offense under federal law. The switch equips the pistol to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger, elevating its destructive power.
The Justice Department press release
highlights the concerted efforts by law enforcement to curb the circulation of such lethal modifications. “The defendant knowingly carried a fully automatic weapon, a pistol with a switch device whose only purpose is to make a dangerous weapon all the more deadly – and then carelessly left that gun in the back of a rideshare,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace. ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller also emphasized the importance of these convictions, noting that “every device removed from our streets represents lives saved and tragedies prevented.”
Miller’s sentiment was echoed by NYPD Interim Commissioner, Thomas G. Donlon, who warned of the severe repercussions of bringing illegal, modified firearms into the city. His statement underscores the city’s stance on illegal firearms, “Today’s sentence serves as a reminder to anyone who may bring an illegal firearm, especially one that has been modified to increase its lethality, into New York City: There are serious consequences for your reckless actions.” The apprehension and conviction of Dukes are a testament to the ongoing collaboration between varied law enforcement agencies, including the ATF and NYPD, in their collective pursuit of public safety.
The prosecution fell under the responsibility of Assistant United States Attorneys Gilbert M. Rein and Rebecca M. Schuman, supported by Paralegal Specialist Rachel Friedman.
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