Police handcuffs and criminal fingerprints card

CAMDEN, N.J. — A man from Atlantic County, New Jersey, has pleaded guilty to possessing unregistered machine guns and other firearms, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Tuesday. Michael John James, 30, of Somers Point, New Jersey, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Keil, admitting to charges under the National Firearms Act.

According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at James’ residence in February 2024. During the search, authorities recovered dozens of firearms and ballistics items, including three operable machine guns, a weapon modified to be shorter than a standard rifle, a weapon modified to be shorter than a standard shotgun, and three silencers. James admitted to possessing all the items found in his home and confirmed that the machine guns and other firearms were operable at the time.

The charge to which James pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December 30, 2024.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.