Jeremiah Ashley, Glock Switch Dealing, Dallas TX, 2023

DALLAS, TX – A 22-year-old Dallas man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly turning Instagram into a marketplace for illegal Glock switches, devices that can transform ordinary pistols into fully automatic weapons. Jeremiah Dwyen Ashley was indicted December 28 on two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, a charge that carries a hefty potential prison sentence.

The case, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), began when law enforcement spotted advertisements for the switches on the social media platform. An undercover officer arranged a meeting with Ashley at a Garland gas station on May 24, purchasing three switches for $1,200. Ashley allegedly didn’t hesitate to demonstrate how the devices worked, showing the officer how to install a switch onto a pistol.

The investigation didn’t stop there. A follow-up purchase attempt led officers to a shipment of 30 more switches, smuggled in from Taiwan and concealed amongst metal screws in three separate packages. The packages were intercepted at a UPS distribution center on June 10. An undercover agent then posed as a delivery driver, handing the packages directly to Ashley on June 14. A subsequent search of his apartment revealed his admission that he knew the contents and that he was known in the neighborhood for selling these dangerous devices online.

“Switches transform regular pistols into weapons of war, only suitable for use by soldiers on the battlefield,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton. “We cannot and will not allow switches to proliferate on the streets of north Texas.” ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II added, “Nothing keeps me up at night more than the thought of a machinegun in the wrong hands… These are not toys or souvenirs; these are terrifying.”

Federal law classifies Glock switches as machineguns, making their possession and sale illegal for civilians without proper licensing. Unlike semi-automatic firearms, machineguns are capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. If convicted, Ashley faces up to 10 years in federal prison per count – a potential sentence of up to 20 years. The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF Dallas Field Office, the Garland Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

An indictment is not proof of guilt. Ashley is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Ellison is prosecuting the case. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it progresses through the federal court system.

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