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Crime & Courts

Mobile Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Machinegun

Braedan Matthew Thomas, 20, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for possessing a machinegun-conversion device, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 1, 2026, 4:45 p.m. ET
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A Mobile man was to 12 months and one day in prison for illegally possessing a machinegun, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Alabama announced on September 1, 2026. According to court documents, on February 16, 2026, Mobile Police Department officers arrested Braedan Matthew Thomas, 20, after finding him in possession of a Glock handgun affixed with a machinegun-conversion device. The arrest followed social media posts earlier that day showing Thomas lying on his back with his shoes removed, a scene consistent with mocking an individual killed the previous night. Officers were conducting increased patrols in downtown Mobile during Mardi Gras festivities. Thomas was indicted and pleaded guilty to the charge. U.S. District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer him to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted it. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative.

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  1. Version 11 Sept 2026, 20:45current

    First published.

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