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More Than 100 Firearm “Switch” Devices Seized From Suburban Chicago Home; Devices Are Capable of Turning Handguns Into Machine Guns
justice.gov ^ | December 9, 2020 | U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Illinois

Posted on 12/09/2020 11:07:25 AM PST by ransomnote

CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man was arrested on a federal firearm charge after law enforcement this week seized machine guns and more than 100 “switch” devices from his home.  Each device is capable of converting a semi-automatic pistol into a machine gun.

LEONARD D. JOHNSON, also known as “Scrap,” 32, of Robbins, is charged with one count of illegal possession of a machine gun.  Johnson was arrested Monday after agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at his home.  The agents seized five firearms, including three machine guns, and approximately 117 “switch” devices, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. 

Johnson made an initial court appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert in Chicago and was ordered to remain in federal custody.  A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m.

The arrest was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of ATF.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Lansing Police Department and Midlothian Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Mulaney.

Holding illegal firearm offenders accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Guardian and Project Safe Neighborhoods.  In the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Lausch and law enforcement partners have deployed the Guardian and PSN programs to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.

“Machine guns pose a dangerous threat to public safety and have no place on Chicago-area streets,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “Federal law enforcement will act swiftly to neutralize the threat posed by illegal machine guns and keep our communities safe.”

“This case is an excellent example of continued partnership,” said ATF SAC deTineo.  “ATF agents, in coordination with local law enforcement and federal prosecutors, will investigate and prosecute those in possession of these illegal firearms.”

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  The charge in the complaint is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Topic(s): 
Project Guardian
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime
 


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: banglist; batfe; chicago; spam
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To: ransomnote

I would support dumping every single BATF out of an airplane at 10,000 ft without parachutes.

The entire organization is nothing but a criminal conspiracy against the Constitution.

A tactical nuke in their headquarters likewise wouldn’t be excessive.


41 posted on 12/09/2020 12:21:54 PM PST by zeugma (Stop deluding yourself that America is still a free country.)
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To: ransomnote

My Grandpa had a Thompson machine gun.

He ordered it from Sears and it was delivered in the mail.

So, exactly how is it he was an upstanding member of the community and this guy in Chicago is a fiend for have similar weapons?

Machine guns should not be prohibited, they are not even the most dangerous weapons. Long rifles with scopes are the most dangerous legal guns.

You can still legally buy a machine gun if it is an old one...like a Thompson. Then you pay a 200.00 tax. But these old ones are worth a fortune nowadays... so only the rich can legally own machine guns now...seems un-American to me.


42 posted on 12/09/2020 12:22:30 PM PST by Bobalu ("You can't serve papers on a rat, Baby Sister. You gotta kill him or let him be." --Rooster Cogburn)
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To: Right Brigade
It is our 2nd amendment right to own these devices if we wish.

You are most certainly correct.

But I am without any faith in legal arguments these days and haven't the patience to debate issues about our so-called rights with opposition figures. "Shall not be infringed" is a perfectly clear statement which the Government ignores completely. Why? Because they can. It gets to be a very short conversation.

Other means of persuasion are necessary.

We live under a "Pretense-of-Law". The real thing is not coming back any time soon. It seems we have reverted to the condition where "the only rights we have are ones that we can enforce with what we can carry in two hands - while running".

A limited sense of humor is about all I have left. Hence the comments about wasting ammo.

43 posted on 12/09/2020 12:23:16 PM PST by flamberge (The wheels keep turning)
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To: All
THIS is a Machine Gun:

This is a submachine gun:

This is a pistol converted to selectable full-auto fire:


44 posted on 12/09/2020 12:29:17 PM PST by LegendHasIt
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To: 100%FEDUP

I do not know.


45 posted on 12/09/2020 12:34:46 PM PST by Widget Jr
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To: ransomnote

The conversion to full auto is actually in the interest of public safety. Using it makes it less likely to hit anyone.


46 posted on 12/09/2020 12:35:45 PM PST by Kirkwood (Follow your Inner Trump)
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To: ransomnote

“Empty your weapon fast while lowering accuracy to sheer random chance!”

I swear it’s the ammo makers who innovate this stuff.


47 posted on 12/09/2020 12:39:16 PM PST by SaxxonWoods (Ghislaine Maxwell lives and Joe Biden is losing.)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

Yep. Near the garden spot of Markham. Not far from the sandy sun kissed beaches of Blue Island.

L


48 posted on 12/09/2020 12:54:31 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: flamberge

“Because they can”

Those three words are the full status of the law and our status as “citizens” in America.

Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to peaceably assemble, to petition for the redress of grievances, freedom of the press, freedom to keep and bear arms, free and fair elections..

Which of these remains in the face of “because they can” today?

How much more fascism will it take before we realize we’ve recreated the Third Reich?


49 posted on 12/09/2020 12:54:44 PM PST by Scott from the Left Coast (I did not leave my country, my country left me)
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To: PAR35

Lol. I actually used twin MaDeuces in Vietnam on the gunboats. What fun those would be at an Antifa rally.


50 posted on 12/09/2020 12:57:15 PM PST by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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To: Lurker

Seems like there was a fixed election and bribery arrest of some wig-hat in Blue Island around 2009, or so.
I left Homer Glen in 2011.
thanks


51 posted on 12/09/2020 12:58:46 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (If there be WAR in the offing, let it begin HERE. With ME.)
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To: 100%FEDUP

From the Glock Website:

G18 – Fully automatic 9mm firepower

As a true fully automatic pistol the G18 is one of the most specialized GLOCK pistols. With an external fire selector at the rear of the slide you can switch from semi-automatic to full-automatic firing mode.

It comes with an extended 19 round magazine and can provide greater firepower with the optional 33-round magazine. The rate of fire in full-automatic-mode is approximately 20 rounds per second.

Released in 1987 the pistol has the same characteristics like other previous models and the frame size of the service pistol classic G17.


52 posted on 12/09/2020 12:59:15 PM PST by Do_Tar (To my NSA handler: I have an alibi.)
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To: HeadOn

M14s on full auto were uncontrollable. Fully automatic handguns would be just stupid.


53 posted on 12/09/2020 1:00:16 PM PST by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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To: Lurker

Dickie’s grandma going on vacation again....


54 posted on 12/09/2020 1:28:04 PM PST by M1903A1 ("We shed all that is good and virtuous for that which is shoddy and sleazy...and call it progress" )
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

South of Chicago’...blacker than a full eclipse...shenanigans forever...poorer than apalacha poor...
Bermuda triangle for non-blacks.


55 posted on 12/09/2020 2:01:39 PM PST by stylin19a ( 2016 - Best.Election.Of.All.Times.Ever.In.The.History.Of.Ever)
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To: M1903A1

I get that one. Well played sir.

L


56 posted on 12/09/2020 2:19:41 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Lurker

And lets not forget those twin cities of Phoenix and Harvey, the gateway to the southwest suburbs.


57 posted on 12/09/2020 2:38:24 PM PST by dznutz
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To: ransomnote

Must be using those high capacity “clips” holding at least 750 rounds that Biden wants to outlaw


58 posted on 12/09/2020 5:02:08 PM PST by The Great RJ ("Socialists are happy until they run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatche)
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To: PAR35

Yeah. I was thinking along the lines of converting a pistol into two AR-15’s.


59 posted on 12/09/2020 5:05:38 PM PST by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful!)
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To: Dutch Boy; All
Suppression fire is a valid tactic at times.

A source in Marine counter-intell told me a variation of the bump fire technique for semi auto pistols (such as the 1911A1) was taught as a way to break contract with superior pursuing forces.

He said he used it once to good effect in Central America...

60 posted on 12/09/2020 5:08:31 PM PST by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries. )
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