Self-described ‘Boogaloo Boi’ sentenced to 2 years in prison for possession of machine gun

A man from St. Cloud was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of probation for possession of devices that can convert a firearm from semi-automatic to fully automatic.

A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said that 27-year-old Michael Paul Dahlager is a "self-proclaimed member of the ‘Boogaloo Bois,’ a loosely connected group of individuals who espouse anti-government sentiments. The term ‘Boogaloo’ itself references an impending second civil war in the United States and is associated with violent uprisings against the government."

Court documents state that the FBI began their investigation in November 2020 after learning that Dahlager was in possession of a 3D-printed drop-in auto sear and a homemade firearm suppressor from an informant.

An auto sear is designed to make a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic. A fully automatic firearm is considered a machine gun under federal law.

Court documents also show that Dahlager delivered two auto sears to the informant and showed how to insert them into a firearm.

Law enforcement said when they arrested Dahlager in April of 2021, they recovered an additional six auto sears and a suppressor from his home and vehicle.