Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston man has been found guilty after accepting cash as payment for firearms and machine gun conversion devices..
U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now imposed the guilty verdicts against Jonathan Chimney following a three-day trial that concluded May 7. He was convicted of engaging in a firearms business without a license, two counts each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and failure to register a firearm.
From Feb. 10 through July 27, 2022, Chimney and James Price sold firearms to authorities during an undercover operation.
At trial, the court heard the two engaged in eight firearms transactions, selling a total of 66 firearms and 887 rounds of ammunition for approximately $41,000. During the final transaction, the pair agreed to accept cash as payment along with two kilograms of meth. The investigation revealed Chimney and Price intended to sell the drugs for a profit.
Judge Hoyt also saw recordings of each transaction during the trial.
Testimony showed Chimney sold two pistols equipped with machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as switches which convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. Switches are classified as machine guns and require registration with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Evidence revealed Chimney did not possess the required license to deal firearms nor did he register the switches as federal law requires.
Chimney also has a prior federal felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Further information also indicated he conducted these sales in multiple apartments, at least one of which had surveillance cameras monitored via TV. Young children were also in the residence which contained multiple firearms and drugs along with several pit bulls.
The defense attempted to convince the court that Chimney sold the firearms out of apartments that were not leased to him. However, there was no evidence regarding who was the listed leaseholder of the residences. Judge Hoyt did not believe the claims and found Chimney guilty.
Sentencing has been set for Sept. 8. With the exception of engaging in a firearms business without a license which carries a five-year possible sentence, Chimney faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the remaining convictions and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Price, 55, Houston, previously pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing. Four others have also been convicted for related firearms offenses as part of the investigation and sentenced to terms ranging from 24-57 months.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keri Fuller and Anh-Khoa Tran are prosecuting the case.
Updated May 26, 2026
