Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

INDIANAPOLIS – Micah Moore, 31, of Indianapolis, was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a machinegun and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on July 17, 2022, Moore was in possession of three auto sears as well as multiple live rounds of ammunition. Auto sears are conversion devices designed and intended to convert semiautomatic rifles into fully automatic machineguns. Such devices qualify as machineguns, which are prohibited under federal law. Moore also has three prior felony convictions in state court, including one conviction for robbery and another for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. Moore is federally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of these convictions.

Moore made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, made the announcement.

The ATF investigated the case in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Massa who is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.