Springfield Glock Switch Dealer Gets 9+ Years

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Benjamin Hunter-Blake, 25, of Springfield, is heading to federal prison for over nine years after a cache of illegal firearms and machinegun conversion devices were discovered at his residence. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni handed down the 114-month sentence yesterday, followed by 36 months of supervised release.

The bust, stemming from a January 27, 2023 search of Hunter-Blake’s Springfield home, turned up a disturbing arsenal. Investigators seized five pistols, including a .40 caliber handgun rigged with a “Glock switch” – a device that illegally converts a semi-automatic pistol into a machinegun. Also found was an assault pistol equipped with a silencer and a high-capacity drum magazine loaded with 22 rounds. Four additional Glock switches and a substantial collection of ammunition and other firearm-related components completed the grim inventory.

But the hardware wasn’t the whole story. A forensic examination of Hunter-Blake’s mobile phone revealed a pattern of firearms trafficking. Evidence showed he wasn’t just stockpiling weapons; he was actively selling them, including Glock switches, to others – at least one of whom was already a convicted felon. This activity was taking place even while Hunter-Blake was already under house arrest in connection with a separate state firearms case, and following two prior state-level firearms convictions.

Hunter-Blake pleaded guilty in April 2024 to one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, unlawful possession of a machinegun, and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm (the silencer). The sentencing underscores the federal government’s commitment to cracking down on individuals who fuel gun violence by illegally modifying and distributing weapons.

“This defendant wasn’t just collecting guns; he was actively working to put more dangerous weapons on the streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy in a statement. James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Boston Field Division, echoed that sentiment. The successful prosecution was a collaborative effort, with valuable assistance from the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case. Hunter-Blake’s record already includes two state firearms felony convictions, and he remains under indictment for a third state firearms case while serving his federal sentence. This case serves as a stark warning: repeated offenses and firearms trafficking will be met with significant federal penalties.