Eugene Man Indicted For Illegal Possession Of Machine Guns And Silencer

EUGENE, Ore. – An indictment was unsealed in federal court on Wednesday, charging 35-year-old Joshua Allen Lampe, a resident of Eugene, with the illegal possession of two firearms that had been converted into fully-automatic machine guns and a silencer.

Lampe is accused of unlawfully possessing two machine guns and a silencer, violating the National Firearms Act, which prohibits the possession and transfer of certain firearms, including machine guns and silencers, without proper registration.

According to court documents, in August 2022, a search of Lampe’s Eugene residence led investigators to seize numerous firearms, knives, ammunition, firearm accessories and parts, scopes, laser sights, packaging materials, tactical gear, and other armaments.

In December 2022, investigators obtained a warrant to search Lampe’s home for a second time within four months. This search revealed that Lampe had acquired hand tools, a rifle, firearm parts, machine gun switches, a 3D printer used to produce switches, several ghost guns, a silencer, packaging materials, as well as methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl pills.

Analysis and testing conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed that two pistols seized from Lampe’s residence were converted into operative machine guns using switches. The analysis also confirmed the functionality of the seized silencer.

Machine gun switches, sometimes referred to as “Glock switches,” are attachments used to convert firearms from semi-automatic to fully-automatic mode.

Lampe appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai for his initial court appearance. He pleaded not guilty and was released on conditions pending a jury trial scheduled to commence on September 5, 2023.

The illegal possession of a machine gun and a silencer carries a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison per count of conviction.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Eugene Police Department, with assistance from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program focused on reducing violent crime. Through PSN, various stakeholders collaborate to address the community’s most pressing violent crime issues by developing comprehensive solutions and targeting enforcement efforts towards the most violent offenders. The program also partners with local prevention and reentry programs to achieve lasting reductions in crime.