Agawam Man Faces Up To 35 Years for Ghost Guns and Machine Gun Parts

A Massachusetts man admitted to federal firearms violations after police discovered an arsenal that included untraceable ghost guns, illegal machine gun conversion devices, and thousands of rounds of ammunition during two separate searches in April 2024.

Nicholas Kingsley, 42, of Agawam, pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025, in Hartford federal court to three serious weapons charges. His case highlights growing concerns about privately made firearms and devices that convert legal handguns into automatic weapons.

Traffic Stop Reveals Ghost Guns in Connecticut

The case began on April 16, 2024, when Enfield Police stopped Kingsley during a routine traffic stop. Officers found three ghost guns and 45 rounds of ammunition in his possession.

 

Ghost guns are privately made firearms that lack serial numbers, making them nearly impossible to trace. These weapons have become a significant concern for law enforcement because they bypass traditional background check systems and registration requirements.

 

Vehicle Search Uncovers Larger Weapons Cache

Two days later, on April 18, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Kingsley's vehicle while he remained in state custody. The search, conducted in Agawam, revealed a much larger weapons stockpile.

 

Solo Stove Mesa XL, 7 Inch Tabletop Fire Pit 

 

Agents seized:

 

• 14 fully assembled firearms
• Several Glock machine gun conversion devices
• More than 2,000 rounds of ammunition in various calibers

The conversion devices are small attachments that transform semi-automatic Glock pistols into fully automatic weapons capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.

 

Federal Firearms Laws and Prohibited Persons

Federal law prohibits anyone with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Kingsley has previous felony convictions for:

 

• Drug offenses
• Firearm violations
• Assault
• Larceny
•  

Machine Gun Conversion Devices Are Illegal

Machine gun conversion devices violate federal law because they create automatic weapons without proper registration. The National Firearms Act strictly regulates machine guns, requiring registration, extensive background checks, and special tax stamps.

 

Unregistered automatic weapons are illegal regardless of the owner's criminal history.

 

 

What the National Firearms Act Regulates

 

The National Firearms Act also covers other restricted weapons including:

• Short-barreled rifles
• Short-barreled shotguns
• Suppressors
• Destructive devices

Possessing these items without proper federal registration carries serious criminal penalties.

 

Multi-Agency Investigation Spans Two States

The investigation involved coordination between four law enforcement agencies: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Enfield Police Department, and the Agawam Police Department.

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