Houston Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of Firearm and Machine Gun Conversion Devices

A 28-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm and machine gun conversion devices (MCDs), according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Lenard Butler, who pleaded guilty on April 22, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

The case stems from a May 28, 2022, traffic stop on Highway 59 near Edna, where Butler was the driver of a Dodge Challenger. During the stop, officers detected the odor of marijuana and inquired about any illegal items in the vehicle, including weapons. Butler denied having any illegal items, stating he had smoked marijuana “hours ago.”

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a small baggie with marijuana residue and a Glock pistol under the front passenger seat. The pistol was found to have a gold MCD with the word “Glock” inscribed on it. MCDs modify firearms to enable automatic firing, which is illegal to possess under federal law.

As a convicted felon, Butler was also prohibited from possessing firearms. He will remain in custody until his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, which is yet to be determined.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Booth prosecuted the case.