WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA – Angel Vargas, Jr., 35, of West Springfield, has pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a machinegun, a charge that carries a potential decade-long prison sentence. The bust, a grim reminder of the proliferation of illegal weapons, unfolded earlier this year, but details were released today by federal prosecutors.
According to court documents, a January 5, 2023 search of Vargas’s residence turned up a cache of four loaded firearms, the most damning of which was a privately manufactured “ghost gun” equipped with a Glock-style machinegun conversion device – commonly known as a “Glock switch.” This switch effectively transforms a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon, exponentially increasing its firepower and lethality.
The investigation didn’t stop at the gun itself. Authorities also seized Vargas’s cell phone, which contained further evidence linking him to the possession and alleged trafficking of additional firearms, including more Glock switches. This suggests Vargas wasn’t just an accumulator of illegal weapons, but potentially a supplier in a dangerous underground market.
What makes this case even more troubling is Vargas’s pre-existing legal troubles. He was already on pre-trial release in Springfield District Court, facing separate firearms charges, when the ATF came knocking. This demonstrates a blatant disregard for the law and a pattern of criminal behavior, officials say.
U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division, announced the guilty plea. Sentencing is scheduled for June 14 before U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni. Vargas faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release, and has agreed to forfeit the seized firearms, the Glock switch, and associated ammunition.
The ATF investigation was bolstered by the West Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is leading the prosecution. This case is a stark illustration of the ongoing battle to stem the flow of illegal weapons and hold accountable those who put public safety at risk.
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