⏱ 2 min read
Jakeem Butler, a 25-year-old Texarkana man, was stopped by police for a traffic violation on December 31, 2024. During the stop, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana, leading to a search of the vehicle. Inside, they found a firearm equipped with an illegal machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a Glock-switch. This device can convert a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun, which is a federal crime.
Butler pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machinegun and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III on July 20, 2026. The case was part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which aims to combat violent crime and make communities safer.
The use of a Glock-switch is a serious offense, as it can turn a semi-automatic firearm into a deadly machinegun. Federal law defines a machinegun as a weapon that can shoot, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
The sentencing of Jakeem Butler serves as a reminder of the importance of enforcing federal firearms laws and the consequences of possessing illegal devices like the Glock-switch. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Texas, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons