Honduran National Sentenced to Eight Years for Firearms and Methamphetamine Trafficking in Charlotte

Michael Naun Antunez Vasquez sentenced to 8+ years for selling machine guns and meth in Charlotte. Faces deportation after prison term.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 7:32 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Charlotte Observer

Federal Sentencing in High-Capacity Firearm Case

A major firearms and narcotics investigation in the Charlotte region concluded this week with the sentencing of a Honduran national in federal court. Michael Naun Antunez Vasquez was ordered on Wednesday to serve more than eight years in prison. The sentencing, announced by the office of U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, marks the end of a legal process that began with a targeted sting operation involving several high-powered weapons and illegal modifications.

Undercover Operation and Machine Gun Conversion

The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), utilized an undercover agent to facilitate several transactions with Vasquez throughout 2024. Prosecutors revealed that during these meetings, Vasquez sold multiple firearms to the agent. Of particular concern to federal authorities was a Glock handgun that had been illegally modified with a conversion device, effectively turning the semi-automatic pistol into a fully functional machine gun.

Interception and Seizure by Union County Deputies

The criminal activity was interrupted when Union County sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on Vasquez while he was en route to a scheduled meeting with the undercover ATF agent. A search of the vehicle yielded a significant cache of contraband, including approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine and various high-capacity magazines. Deputies also recovered ammunition, additional firearms, and a specific machine gun conversion device intended for further weapon modifications.