Memphis Man Sentenced for Possession of 25 ‘Switch’ Devices

Memphis, TN - A federal judge has sentenced a Memphis resident to five years in federal prison for possessing 25 machine gun conversion devices, more commonly known as "switches". United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, U. S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted a package from an overseas shipper addressed to Roosevelt Wilson, 43, which was found to contain 25 machine gun conversion devices. These devices significantly enhance the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm, converting a gun designed to fire a bullet and quickly reload after each trigger pull to instead function as a fully automatic weapon.

On February 28, 2023, officers made a controlled delivery of the package to the address listed. Wilson retrieved the package and the officers attempted arrest. The defendant then led officers on a high-speed pursuit through a residential neighborhood, tossing the package and a firearm out of his vehicle. Both were discovered along his path of travel. The firearm was later identified as a .40 caliber privately made, Glock-style gun with no serial numbers; it also had a machine gun conversion device affixed to it.

Wilson pled guilty on January 12 to possession of 25 machine gun conversion devices and to receiving and possessing 25 machine gun conversion devices that had been unlawfully imported into the United States. On April 25, 2024, United States District Thomas L. Parker sentenced Wilson to 60 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Homeland Security Investigations and U. S. Customs and Border Protection investigated this case on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Southaven Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service also provided assistance.

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.