The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Tuesday the filing of criminal charges against James Augustus Brauer, 50, of Muir, Schuylkill County, with gun possession counts.

According to the criminal charges, on Jan. 24, 2012, Brauer illegally possessed a fully functional unregistered machine gun, and an unmarked and unregistered drop-in auto sear which is a specific part that makes a semi-automatic rifle fire fully automatic when it is placed into the weapon.U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith said the charge is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gurganus is prosecuting the case.In this case the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 10 years' imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.