Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
An Ocala man, Sean Rayvon Hubbard, Jr., 19, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for possession of a machinegun, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Thursday. United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber handed down the sentence after Hubbard pleaded guilty to the charge on May 22, 2025.
Details of the Investigation
The case began on July 28, 2024, when officers from the Ocala Police Department attempted to arrest Hubbard on outstanding warrants. Hubbard fled from the officers on foot but was ultimately apprehended following a pursuit.
Shortly after the incident, on August 7, 2024, authorities received a report from an apartment complex regarding a firearm discovered along the path where Hubbard had been running. The weapon was identified as a black handgun equipped with a tan extended ammunition magazine.
The Modified Firearm
Crucially, the handgun had been illegally modified with a “switch.” This device enables the firearm to discharge multiple rounds of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger, effectively converting it into a machinegun, which is prohibited under federal law.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Hubbard’s cellphone. On the device, they recovered a video recorded shortly before his arrest on July 28, 2024, showing him handling the same modified handgun.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department jointly investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg prosecuted the matter.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide Department of Justice program that brings together various levels of law enforcement and community partners. PSN aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence, enhancing safety in neighborhoods across the country.
