FORMER MT. JULIET MUSIC MINISTER PLEADS
GUILTY TO POSSESSING MACHINE GUNS

Nashville, TN - James K. Vines, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, James M. Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Nashville Field Division, and Mt. Juliet Police Department Chief of Police, Kenneth Martin, announce that Mark S. Lancaster, age 43, of Mt. Juliet, plead guilty today to possessing machine guns not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The plea occurred in Federal District Court before Federal District Court Judge Robert Echols.

Lancaster became the target of an investigation on January 3, 2003 after the Nashville ATF Field Office received an anonymous tip from a source that implicated Lancaster in the possession of machine guns. On January 8, 2003, ATF Special Agents and officers from the Mt. Juliet Police Department executed a Federal search warrant at Lancaster's 267 Page Drive, Mt. Juliet residence. During the search investigators recovered numerous World War II era machine guns (one Thompson M-1 type .45 caliber submachine gun; one United States M3 A1 ("Grease-gun") type .45 caliber machine gun; two Czech type machine guns; two British Sten type 9mm caliber machine guns; two British Bren type bi-pod mounted machine guns; two Russian type machine guns; four Berretta type 9mm caliber machine guns; one German MG-34 type 8mm caliber machine gun), various firearms parts, firearms blueprints, a welder, and some tools, as evidence.

Lancaster was arrested on January 8, 2003 for violating Federal firearms laws.

On February 5, 2003, a Federal grand jury returned an indicted against Lancaster charging him with violating Title 26, U.S.C., Section 5861 (d) - Possession of machine guns not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

The charge carries a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Although Lancaster did plead guilty, he has reserved his right to appeal a court's previous decision favorable to the government regarding a motion to suppress evidence issue.

Judge Echols scheduled Lancaster's sentencing date for August 29, 2003.

This case was investigated by ATF Special Agents and Officers from the Mt. Juliet Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Phil Wehby prosecuted the case for the government.