Toying With Trouble: Local Man’s ‘Ghost Gun’ Firearm Kit Sparks Legal Storm

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. – Devin Allen Miles, 21, of Lexington Park, Maryland, now faces serious legal consequences following his arrest on October 8, 2024. Acting on a search and seizure warrant, detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office uncovered a dangerous, modified firearm in Miles’s possession. This untraceable weapon, commonly known as a “ghost gun,” was fitted with a “switch” device that enables it to function as a fully automatic machine gun, a modification that is illegal under Maryland law. The arrest, stemming from a larger crackdown on ghost guns and illegal firearm modifications, underscores the severity with which the state views these unregistered and untraceable weapons.

Detectives found the weapon, a Polymer 80 handgun, secured in a safe in Miles’s bedroom at his residence on Little Girls Way. According to the Statement of Probable Cause filed by Deputy DeVries, the handgun was not only un-serialized, making it impossible to trace, but was also modified with a “switch.” This small but powerful device transforms a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic one, allowing it to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. Law enforcement officials report that this kind of modification presents a significant threat to public safety due to the potential for rapid, uncontrolled fire in a situation where the weapon might be used.

During an interview with detectives after being read his Miranda rights, Miles admitted ownership of the Polymer 80 handgun and confirmed that he had modified it with the switch device, referring to it as a “ghost gun.” Alongside the firearm, detectives discovered multiple magazines and ammunition. The device, which is capable of making any compatible firearm fully automatic, raises concerns among law enforcement, who view the proliferation of such weapons as a rising threat within the community.

The charges Miles now faces are substantial. He has been formally charged with possession of a rapid-fire trigger activator, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine, as well as possession of a machine gun for aggressive purposes, which carries a potential sentence of ten years. Combined, these charges could see Miles facing over 13 years in prison, marking this case as a stark warning to others who might consider circumventing firearm laws through unregistered, modified weapons.

This incident adds to the growing challenges faced by law enforcement as ghost guns and illegal modifications continue to become more accessible. Ghost guns, which can be purchased as kits and assembled at home, are untraceable, making them particularly appealing to individuals seeking to avoid regulation. The switch device found in Miles’s possession highlights the devastating impact such modifications could have if left unchecked, turning a legal or semi-legal weapon into a high-capacity machine gun that operates outside the limits of conventional firearm regulations.

Miles is currently held at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center as he awaits trial. Law enforcement officials have underscored the importance of addressing firearm-related threats to maintain community safety. Miles’s case, they say, is a clear example of the risks posed by ghost guns and the urgency with which these illegal modifications must be addressed.

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