United States Attorney Ritz Announces Recent Prosecutions for “Switches” and Releases Public Service Announcement about Illegal Machine Gun Conversion Devices

Memphis, TN – Today, United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz, along with federal and local law 
enforcement partners, announced the prosecution of 26 individuals for crimes involving machine gun 
conversion devices, also known as “switches” or auto sears. These switches transform a 
semiautomatic firearm into a machine gun capable of firing dozens of rounds of ammunition in a 
couple of seconds.

United States Attorney Ritz also released a 60-second public service announcement, available here, 
about the danger posed by switches. The PSA features a trained agent demonstrating how these 
illegal devices turn a firearm into a machine gun that is essentially impossible to control. In the 
PSA, United States Attorney Ritz also explains that simply possessing a switch can result in 
significant penalties—up to 10 years in federal prison.

United States Attorney Ritz said: “Switches are illegal and highly dangerous devices that convert 
semiautomatic firearms into machine guns. These devices threaten public safety and make the gun 
violence problem even worse. As our recent prosecutions show, we are vigorously enforcing the 
federal laws prohibiting machine gun conversion devices.  I encourage the public to watch our new 
public service announcement and spread the word: anyone with a switch will face significant time in 
federal prison.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has made prosecution of crimes involving switches a top priority.  In 
recent months, Assistant United States Attorneys in both Memphis and Jackson have prosecuted 26 
individuals for illegally possessing switches. These cases, which are detailed below, were 
investigated by federal and local law enforcement partners, including the Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland 
Security Investigations (HSI), the Memphis Police Department (MPD), and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).

“These illegal machine gun conversion devices more commonly referred to as ‘switches’ can 
significantly enhance the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm. This enhancement adds to the 
potential lethality of the weapon. Our communities are experiencing an unacceptable increase in 
firearm related violence and these devices have no place on our streets,” said Marcus Watson, 
Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Nashville.

Memphis Police Chief, Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said, "Gun violence has increasingly plagued our city in 
recent years, causing death and trauma throughout. Switches and similar devices have only 
exacerbated these urgent issues in our community, prompting the need for stronger enforcement. We 
are grateful for U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz and his team of prosecutors for aggressively seeking the 
maximum penalties for individuals who brazenly commit violence."

“The illegal importation and use of switches create a significant threat to public safety. As 
simple to manufacture as they are quick to install, conversion devices turn regular firearms into a 
machine gun capable of inflicting tremendous harm in a split second. Homeland Security 
Investigations (HSI) is committed to stopping the transnational criminal organizations that 
conspire to import these illegal firearm conversion kits used for violent criminal acts and harming 
the communities we serve,” said Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud, HSI Nashville.

“The United States Marshals Service always stands ready to assist our local, state, and federal 
partners in executing arrest warrants for suspects who possess weapons with ‘switches’ or 
modifications. These suspects pose a consequential threat to our communities and will be a priority 
for our fugitive task forces,” said Tyreece Miller, United States Marshal, Western District of 
Tennessee.

The following defendants have been convicted and sentenced for federal crimes involving switches. 
There is no parole in the federal system.

•  Prenagio Baines, 21. Baines was a member of AOB, a violent hybrid street gang operating in 
Memphis. On March 13, 2022, MPD officers encountered a vehicle parked on the wrong side of the 
road.  Baines got out of the vehicle.  Officers discovered a .40 caliber pistol with a machine gun 
conversion device attached. Baines admitted that he left the gun in the vehicle. He pled guilty to 
possessing a machine gun and was sentenced on February 27, 2023, to 24 months in prison.

•  Daniel Banks, 23. Banks fled from officers on foot during a traffic stop. He dropped a firearm 
with a switch after he jumped over a fence. Banks pled guilty to drug and gun crimes, including 
possession of a machine gun, and was sentenced on March 24, 2023, to 84 months.

•  Justin Hardaway, 23. Hardaway was a member of the Grape Street Crips, a violent street gang 
operating in Memphis. In March 2022, officers followed Hardaway driving a stolen Dodge Charger into 
the parking lot of a convenience store. The officers placed Hardaway into custody and recovered a 
.40 caliber Glock handgun with a machine gun conversion device attached. Hardaway pled guilty to                                           possessing a machine gun and was sentenced on February 14, 2023, to 30 months.

•  Terrance Jones, 24. ATF learned that Jones was selling drugs, which led to a search warrant 
executed on his trap house. Jones had a home camera system that recorded him selling drugs with 
firearms.  The switch charge derived from a separate incident—a shooting at Young Dolph’s memorial. 
Jones was in the car that fled the scene, and the evidence showed that he discarded a firearm with 
the switch. Jones pled guilty. He was sentenced on October 27, 2022, to 30 months on the switch 
charge and a consecutive 60 months on a separate firearm charge.

•  Daniel Kirtman, 25.  Kirtman, a convicted felon, sold a short-barreled rifle. Agents arrested 
Kirtman and seized a Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion 
device. Kirtman pled guilty to firearm crimes and was sentenced on December 7, 2022, to 102 months 
in prison.

•  Michael Thomas, 24.  Thomas sold and possessed multiple machine gun conversion devices. Thomas 
pled guilty to possessing the switches and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug 
trafficking crime.  He was sentenced on December 1, 2022, to 84 months.

•  Michael Naylor, 26. Investigators discovered Naylor worked at a gun store and was selling 
machine guns, switches, and other firearms. During the investigation, agents met with Naylor on two 
different occasions to purchase switches. In the first meeting, undercover ATF agents purchased 
three switches, and in the second meeting agents purchased one switch.  On the final occasion, 
Naylor brought twenty switches to sell.  ATF agents arrested him.  Naylor pled guilty and was 
sentenced on March 3, 2023, to 27 months.

The following defendants have been convicted of federal crimes involving switches and are awaiting 
sentencing. Under federal law, the penalty for possession of a machine gun is up to 10 years in 
prison.

•  Kameron Chatman, 20. Chatman was seen in a Facebook video with a switch. On March 9, 2023, he 
pled guilty in federal court in Jackson, Tennessee, to firearm crimes, including possession of a 
machine gun.

•  Avonta Gregory, 21. Gregory, a member of the AOB violent hybrid street gang in Memphis, pled 
guilty on May 1, 2023, to possessing a Glock firearm with a 22- round magazine and a machine gun 
conversion device.

•  Martavious Hodges, 23.  Hodges, a member of the Fast Cash violent hybrid street gang in Memphis, 
sold firearms with switches on January 7, 2022, and January 26, 2022. On February 9, 2022, officers 
arrested Hodges with six switches before the third controlled delivery.  He pled guilty on March 
22, 2023, to possession of a machine gun.

•  Cameron Person, 20. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Person’s residence and located 
four switches, materials to put together another one, and two firearms. He pled guilty in federal 
court in Jackson, Tennessee, on March 7, 2023, to possession of a machine gun.

•  Michael Rimmer, Jr., 21. Law enforcement recovered five firearms possessed by Rimmer. Two had 
switches. Rimmer pled guilty on March 20, 2023, to a drug crime and possession of machine guns.

•  Mitchell Shaw, 23. Shaw pled guilty on September 28, 2022, in federal court in Jackson, 
Tennessee, to possessing a machine gun.

•  Maurice Wilson, 38. Defendant possessed a switch and pled guilty on March 14, 2023, to firearm 
crimes.

•  Dionco Lowe, 25.  During the investigation into Lowe, law enforcement recovered four firearms 
and a machine gun conversion device. Lowe pled guilty on May 9, 2023, to being a felon in 
possession of a firearm.

The following defendants have been charged with federal crimes involving switches. Members of the 
public are reminded that an indictment is an accusation and only contains charges. Each defendant 
is presumed innocent of the charges and it is the government’s burden to prove each defendant’s 
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

•  Nakiel Addison, 25. Addison was indicted on March 30, 2023, for federal gun crimes, including 
possessing a firearm with a switch.

•  Khamron Roberts, 25. Roberts was indicted on April 27, 2023, for federal gun crimes, including 
possessing a firearm with a switch.

•  Roosevelt Wilson, 42. Wilson was indicted on April 27, 2023, for federal gun crimes. His alleged 
crime involved ordering 25 switches from China.

•  Jaquan Bridges, 22. Bridges was indicted on April 27, 2023, for possessing a machine gun.  His 
alleged crime involved shooting at a SCSO deputy on the interstate. Investigators recovered a gun 
with a switch.

•  Jaqerious Conner, 25. Conner was indicted on November 10, 2022, for drug and gun crimes, 
including possession of a machine gun. Conner was investigated for trafficking drugs and switches. 
Officers recovered multiple firearms, one of which was a Glock with a machine gun conversion 
device.

•  Quatavious Doggett, 23. Doggett was indicted on March 16, 2023, for being a felon in possession 
of a firearm and possession of a machine gun. His alleged crime involved possession of a firearm 
with a switch.

•  Pariss Johnson, 36, Paris Brown, 22, and Leroy Cloyd, 22.  These three defendants were indicted 
on February 16, 2023, for possessing machine guns. During the investigation, law enforcement 
performed undercover purchases of machine gun conversion devices.

•  Timothy Williams, 25. Williams was indicted on February 7, 2023, for being a felon in possession 
of firearms and other crimes. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered four firearms and 
a machine gun conversion device.

•  Eddie Martinez, 25. Martinez was indicted on January 26, 2023, for possession of a machine gun. 
During the investigation agents recovered a Glock 9mm pistol with a switch and loaded with 23 
rounds.

Several defendants charged in this series of indictments are alleged to be convicted felons. Under 
federal law, is it illegal for an individual convicted of a felony to possess a firearm or 
ammunition.

Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF- GUNS 
(1-800-283-4867).

United States Attorney Ritz offered his gratitude to the Assistant United States Attorneys who are 
prosecuting these cases, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated
cases.