University of Central Florida police arrested a student on Tuesday the 29th for possessing three Drop-In Auto Sears, more commonly known by their acronym of DIAS. Police had received an anonymous tip that the student, Max Bennett Chambers, was in possession of an unregistered machinegun.

The Arrest

Chambers allowed the police to search his vehicle. During the search, the police found an AR-15 with one of the DIAS’ installed. The rifle had a 6-round 5.56 magazine already inserted when the police found it. A police armorer verified that the rifle functioned as a machinegun. It fired all 6 rounds without stoppages and fired 19 shots out of a magazine loaded with 22 before a stoppage occurred.

Chambers then admitted to the police that he had manufactured the three ‘DIAS’ in December 2018, and had successfully tested one in early January of this year. When the Police questioned Chambers said he knew it was illegal, but that he “does not like laws.”

Police said that Chambers had been in trouble with them before. Some time in spring 2018 officers talked to Chambers about his possession of an AR upper in his dorm. This was not illegal, but it did violate school rules.

The Charges

Unsurprisingly, Chambers was charged under Florida statute 790.221, which bans possession without Federal approval of NFA weapons. However, charges were also filed against Chambers under a different section of the law. Chambers is also charged with violating Florida’s controversial “bump-fire stocks” prohibition.

Critics of the ban said it could apply to numerous devices that weren’t bump-stocks, and it appears they may be right. The prohibition applies to anything that constitutes a conversion kit, tool, accessory, or device that can alter the rate of fire of a semi-automatic weapon. The state is charging Chambers with possession of a bump-fire stock.

The first charge is a 2nd Degree Felony, the latter a 3rd Degree Felony. Together Chambers faces up 20 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has been made aware of the violations and is deciding whether or not to charge Chambers in Federal court. If charged in Federal court, Chambers faces an additional 10 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000.

University of Central Florida Police Statement

In response to anonymous tips, the UCF Police Department on Tuesday arrested a student who was in possession of an illegally-modified weapon and other items that violated state law and university policy.

The student, who lived on campus and has been trespassed following his arrest, expressed no direct threat to the university community. However, his disregard for firearms laws was concerning—and ultimately illegal— especially in this day and age.

Critically, the information about this unlawful activity was brought to UCFPD’s attention via anonymous informations first reported to CRIMELINE.

That the situation was reported as suspicious and then followed up on by law enforcement is a testament to the power of the “See Something, Say Something” message. When suspicious activity is brought to UCFPD’s attention, we’ll do something.

Remember that no call is too small for us to care about. Trust in your gut instincts, and speak up when it feels right.

UCFPD can be reached 24/7 by calling 911 in an emergency or 407-823-5555 for non-emergencies. You also can report information about crimes anonymously and be eligible for a reward by calling CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS.