By Associated Press - Thursday, February 15, 2018

BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan man who appeared with his family on the TLC show “Meet the Putmans” has been charged with gun crimes.

Brandon Putman appeared Thursday in federal court in Bay City, Michigan. He’s accused of trying to get copies of a component to convert AR-15 rifles into automatic machine guns.

Federal firearms agent Stephen Ross says Putman went to a machine shop and asked for 10 copies of a metal part. The shop owner later contacted investigators.

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Ross says Putman texted an undercover agent in January to ask about the parts.

Putman was released on bond. Messages seeking comment were left for him and his attorney.

“Meet the Putmans” aired on TLC last fall. Three generations of a family lived in one house in Michigan.

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