A North Carolina man, known as the “AK Guru,” has been charged with manufacturing and selling illegal machine guns, according to federal authorities.
Seventy-two-year-old Earl Carter Jr. was detained on several charges, including conspiracy to produce and distribute firearms without a license, possession of a machine gun, and illegal firearm ownership as a convicted felon. Court records do not currently show if Carter has entered a plea, and there has been no response from his listed attorney as of Wednesday.
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Charges Against “AK Guru”
According to an FBI affidavit citing a confidential informant, Carter is alleged to manufacture machine guns using two methods: modifying legal firearms into automatic weapons, or assembling them from parts of dismantled guns.
The affidavit, dated October 18, further claims that Carter trained others to make machine guns for sale. The informant mentioned that Carter transfers a significant number of machine guns from his workshop and has connections for smuggling firearms from Europe into the U.S.
“Carter has sold over 1,000 fully automatic AK-47s to various groups, with some individuals from the mountains reportedly buying multiple AK-47s each week,” stated the affidavit.
Details from the Informant
The informant observed Carter working with machine guns in his workshop located in Hamlet, about 80 miles east of Charlotte. Reportedly found in Carter’s possession were fully automatic AK-47s, a Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun, a PPS-43 submachine gun, and others.
The informant also revealed that Carter had directed him to manufacture machine guns for resale.
Discovery at Carter’s Properties
During a federal search of Carter’s home and workshop, agents confiscated multiple AK-style rifles and additional firearms that had components indicating they could be converted to machine guns. Carter acknowledged his status as a convicted felon and recognized that he should not possess firearms, stemming from a felony conviction in 1994 for discharging a weapon into an occupied property.
Carter has been ordered to remain in federal custody while awaiting trial, though a trial date has yet to be set.
This article incorporates reporting from The Associated Press.