Plea document: Rural Sarcoxie man had stockpile of automatic weapons, 5,000 rounds of ammunition

A Sarcoxie man who pleaded guilty in federal prison Monday had a stockpile of weapons, none purchased through licensed dealers and more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition when Newton County Sheriff's deputies and agents from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms executed a search warrant at his home Aprll 23, according to a plea agreement filed Tuesday in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Federal authorities were alerted to the illegal activities of Leng Lee, when Homeland Security intercepted a package from China addressed to Lee that contained selector switches designed to convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machine guns.

In the plea document, the U. S. Attorney agreed not to seek more than 10 years in prison for Lee.







Lee's crimes are detailed in the plea agreement:

On April 23, 2019, law enforcement officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Newton County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department participated in the controlled delivery of an international mail package from China addressed to Leng Lee (LEE) at his residence located at 21657 Amos Lane, Sarcoxie, Newton County, Missouri 64862, a location within the Western District of Missouri. 

The parcel contained seven parts (selector switches) that are used to convert a Glock semi-automatic pistol to fire in full-automatic mode. 

Prior to the delivery of the selector switches, law enforcement intercepted the package upon its entry into the United States from China. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents inspected the contents and determined it contained devices that were designed and intended to convert a Glock, semi-automatic firearm, into a fully-automatic machine gun style firearm. 

Law enforcement became aware that LEE had ordered the devices over the internet from a manufacturer in China and that LEE was a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms and was not licensed to possess a machine gun. 

On April 23, 2019, while conducting surveillance of the mailbox for 21657 Amos Lane, Sarcoxie, Missouri, agents observed LEE open and gain access to the mailbox, removing the mail package containing selector switches. LEE then drove his vehicle back to his residence. 

Officers then proceeded to LEE’s residence. While driving toward the residence, officers observed the blue truck that LEE drove to his mailbox, was now parked in front of his residence. 

As they approached, officers observed LEE walk into his residence. Newton County Sheriff’s Department SRT team made entry into the residence and made contact with LEE. Entry onto LEE’s property and into his residence was executed as a result of a federal search warrant that had been previously obtained. 

During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement found numerous firearms, ammunition, suspected firearm suppressors, suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, suspected stolen farm equipment, and a large amount of United States currency inside LEE’s residence. 

LEE admitted that all the firearms located in the residence were owned by him. LEE stated that a couple of the firearms were given to him by his deceased father, but the others were purchased by him at gun shows or during hand-to-hand transactions. None of the firearms were purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. 

LEE also admitted to placing the order for the seven selector switches and stated that he had 10-15 past deliveries of the same items, and that he was able to convert and successfully fire a Glock 19 pistol as a fully automatic machine gun. 









LEE also claimed ownership of the methamphetamine and marijuana located inside his residence. 

Special Agent (SA) Ken Killian with HSI contacted LEE on the front porch of his residence and informed him that there was a federal search warrant for his residence. LEE was escorted to the front passenger seat of the agent’s vehicle. LEE was advised of his Miranda Warnings using ICE Form 73-025. LEE stated he understood his rights, agreed to waive his rights, and speak with the agents. 

ATF SA Brian Fox and SA Killian conducted an interview with LEE regarding the delivered package and other items that were found during the search of his residence. 

LEE confessed that all of the firearms, selector switches that converted handguns into machine guns, the ammunition, as well as controlled substances found within his residence belonged to him. LEE also confessed that he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or machine gun due to his status as a convicted felon. 

A criminal history records check returned numerous previous felony convictions. In January of 2003, LEE was convicted for felony vandalism in California. In March of 2005, LEE was convicted of two counts of burglary, and single counts of felon in possession of firearm and grand theft, all felonies, and was sentenced to ten years in prison. 

Ultimately, LEE admitted that he was aware that due to his previous criminal convictions he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Also, LEE stated that he was familiar with his previous conviction in California of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Each of these felony convictions were punishable for a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. 

All firearms, ammunition, suppressors, and narcotics were seized by ATF. In total, eighteen firearms were seized from LEE. SA Fox examined three of the firearms seized from LEE: a) a Glock Model 20, 10mm caliber pistol with serial number BDMX790; b) a Glock Model 19, 9mm caliber pistol with serial number BGXP304; and c) a Glock Model 19, 9mm caliber pistol with serial number WWV406. SA Fox conducted a modified test-fire of the three handguns at the ATF Springfield Field Office and the firearms were operable. 

The firearms were also examined, and it was concluded that they were not manufactured in the state of Missouri, and that their presence in Missouri indicated that they traveled in and/or affected interstate commerce. 

A Glock conversion device was tested. The Glock conversion device functioned as intended, in that the Glock conversion device successfully converted a semiautomatic Glock firearm into a fully automatic Glock machine gun capable of discharging multiple rounds of ammunition with a single depression of the trigger. 

The Glock conversion devices were not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. 

Finally, officers also seized over 5,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as various quantities of controlled substances that were confirmed by LEE to be methamphetamine and marijuana. All of the aforementioned acts occurring within the Western District of Missouri.

No date has been scheduled for Lee's sentencing.