Grand Rapids, MI → A Michigan teen whose name first made headlines after surviving a near-fatal shooting in Alabama last summer has now admitted guilt in a federal gun case that prosecutors say began weeks before that incident.
Ethan Carter, 19, of Hudsonville, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession and transfer of a machinegun, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. He now faces a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison when he returns to court for sentencing on June 9, 2026.
The plea stems from allegations that Carter distributed and possessed machine-gun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches,” that can turn semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.
The Plea Deal And What He Admitted
Under the signed plea agreement, Carter agreed to plead guilty to Count 1 of the superseding indictment — possession and transfer of a machinegun under federal law.
In the factual basis section of the agreement, Carter admitted that on or about June 22, 2025, in Ottawa County, he gave a machine-gun conversion device to another person and knew the device was designed solely to make a firearm shoot automatically with a single pull of the trigger.
Investigators later executed a search warrant at his home on July 17, 2025, where agents reported finding a Glock Model 20 pistol with a conversion device installed, along with approximately six additional conversion devices. Carter admitted he possessed those items and understood what they were designed to do.
As part of the agreement, prosecutors also stated they will move to dismiss the remaining count tied to the indictment at sentencing. However, the court is still allowed to consider the conduct behind that dismissed charge when determining where his sentence should fall under federal guidelines.
The agreement makes clear that sentencing guidelines are not mandatory. A judge will ultimately determine the final punishment after reviewing a presentence report, and can impose a sentence within, above, or below the calculated range, up to the 10-year statutory maximum.
The Spiral That Began Over The Summer
The federal case marks a dramatic turn in a timeline that began months earlier when Carter was known publicly as a victim.
On July 12, 2025, the then-18-year-old Hudsonville High School graduate was in Birmingham, Alabama for football training when he was shot seven times during what police described as a robbery tied to a planned gun purchase. Family members said the sale itself was legal and believed he had been set up.
RELATED: Additional Details On Ethan Carter’s Gunshot Wounds
Carter was struck twice in the head and multiple times in the arm, chest, and hand. He survived and managed to escape before collapsing in the grass. Doctors reportedly told his family his survival defied the odds.
Days later, investigators in Michigan executed the search warrant that would eventually lead to the federal weapons charges.
From Victim To Defendant
Months after the shooting, Carter was arrested by federal authorities on allegations that he possessed a machinegun and multiple conversion switches. Prosecutors said the devices were discovered shortly after the Alabama incident.
RELATED: Michigan Teen Shot in Alabama During Gun Purchase Now Facing Federal Machine Gun Charges
He initially pleaded not guilty and was released on bond under strict conditions that included residing at a supervised facility in Grand Rapids, drug testing, and restrictions on travel, employment, and weapons.
In December 2025, a federal judge revoked his bond after pretrial services alleged multiple violations, including leaving the facility without permission and testing positive for a controlled substance without a valid prescription. He was taken back into custody pending trial.
What Happens Next
With the guilty plea now entered, the case moves into the sentencing phase.
Carter faces:
- Up to 10 years in federal prison
- Up to a $250,000 fine
- Supervised release following any prison term
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 9, 2026.
Meanwhile, the original Alabama shooting that nearly killed him remains unsolved, with no arrests announced in that case.
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