A felon forbidden to own firearms who sold multiple guns – including a machine gun – to buyers across the Fillmore and Tenderloin districts, pleaded guilty in federal court today.
Prosecutors told the court that between February and July 2021, Trajordon Svarda, 34, sold guns and narcotics “on at least seven occasions” to a buyer who was an informant for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Each deal was recorded by audio and/or video.
- July 22, 2021 Svarda sold a privately-manufactured machine gun and 65.7 grams of methamphetamine near the junction of Eddy/Divisadero.
- April 14, 2021 Svarda sold a Taurus model PT740 .40 firearm and an FN .32 ACP caliber pistol near the junction of Eddy/Divisadero.
- March 26, 2021 Svarda sold an AR-style .223 caliber privately-manufactured pistol near the junction of Eddy/Divisadero.
- March 24, 2021 Svarda sold the informant 85.8 grams of suspected ecstasy and a Smith and Wesson revolver near the junction of Turk/Divisadero.
- March 9, 2021 Svarda sold a Rock Island Armory 1911 .45 caliber pistol and 41.7 grams of suspected ecstasy near junction of Turk/Divisadero.
- February 17, 2021 Svarda sold 39.7 grams of suspected ecstasy and 3 grams of marijuana at the junction of Jones/McAllister.
- February 24, 2021 Svarda sold 117.6 grams of suspected ecstasy near the junction of Jones /McAllister.
The court had previously been told that Svarda, 34, had four felony convictions. In Ohio in 2007 he was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and drugs offenses. In California in 2017 he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors noted that their informant had previous felony convictions and was working with the ATF “in exchange for compensation and consideration”. They insist that he has been reliable in the past and much of the information provided has been independently corroborated.
The defendant had originally intended to plead guilty at a hearing held on June 14. At that hearing, however, U.S. District Judge William Alsup warned that while he was prepared to accept the plea, it would almost inevitably result in a custodial sentence. This prompted Svarda’s attorney, David Rizk, to request more time for his client to consider the situation.
“Even without the machine gun it’s serious,” Alsup said, “but the machine gun to me is a step beyond 922(g) [‘felon in possession of a firearm’].”
“Almost always you’re going to go to prison with a machine gun.”
Today Svarda pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of illegal possession of a machine gun.
Svarda has been free on pre-trial release and remains out of custody ahead of sentencing on October 24, 2023. Public records show Trajordon Svarda is related to Jazz Svarda, the precise relationship being unclear. Jazz Svarda was imprisoned for 37 months on May 1 2023 for a robbery of a Walgreens pharmacy in San Francisco.
Update: On November 28 2023 Judge Alsup sentenced Svarda to 52 months in prison.
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