A Mississippi man is facing serious time behind bars after pleading guilty to possessing a machinegun. Atrell Galloway Jr., 21, admitted in federal court on June 4, 2025, to the dangerous charge, closing the book on an investigation that began with a routine traffic stop.
The unraveling of Galloway’s illegal firearm possession started on June 9, 2024. Capitol Police officers pulled over a vehicle on Lynch Street for a traffic violation. What they found next quickly escalated the situation: narcotics in plain view, prompting a full search of the vehicle.
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That search yielded a chilling discovery: a Glock Model 45 handgun outfitted with a “switch” – a device that instantly converts a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun. Capitol Police swiftly seized the weapon and handed the case over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The ATF’s follow-up investigation painted a clear picture. After securing a search warrant for Galloway’s cell phone, agents found photographs of the illegally modified weapon, complete with its serial number displayed. Even more incriminating were text messages discussing the compatibility of “switches” with various Glock handguns.
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During his guilty plea hearing, Galloway didn’t mince words. He confessed to purchasing ten machinegun conversion devices online and, even more concerning, admitted to installing the “switch” on the recovered handgun himself.
Galloway is now slated for sentencing on September 4, 2025, where he faces a maximum of ten years in federal prison. His fate will be decided by a federal district court judge, who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
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This successful prosecution was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. The case was a collaborative effort, with the ATF leading the investigation and the Capitol Police Department providing crucial assistance.
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