Joseph Smith, Illegal Firearm Modification, Illinois 2022

ROCKFORD, IL – A Rockford man is headed to federal prison for more than five years after authorities caught him with a loaded handgun illegally modified to function as a fully automatic weapon. Joseph Smith, 26, received his sentence Friday from U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston, adding another chapter to the city’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.

Smith was sentenced to five years and five months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to illegal firearm possession, a charge that carried significant weight given his prior felony conviction, which legally barred him from owning any firearms. The bust went down on September 15, 2021, when Smith was found carrying a handgun loaded with 17 rounds and equipped with a “switch” – a cheap and dangerous device that transforms a semi-automatic pistol into a machine gun.

According to court documents, the illegal modification allowed Smith’s handgun to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. These “switches” are increasingly turning up in crimes across the country, enabling shooters to unleash a rapid barrage of bullets and escalate violence. Federal investigators have traced many of these devices to illicit online marketplaces and makeshift workshops.

The case was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Rockford Police Department. Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ATF’s Chicago Field Division, and Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd, heralded the sentence as a win for public safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Ladd prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, led by John R. Lausch, Jr.

Lausch’s office highlighted the sentencing as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime through targeted federal prosecution. In the Northern District of Illinois, PSN is specifically aimed at cracking down on firearm offenses, reflecting a broader national push to curb gun violence. This case signals a commitment to holding illegal firearm possessors accountable at the federal level.

While five years is a substantial sentence, it remains to be seen if it will deter others from illegally modifying firearms and endangering the community. Rockford, like many cities across the nation, continues to grapple with a surge in gun violence, and law enforcement agencies are under pressure to find effective strategies to stem the tide. The ATF and Rockford PD have not released any information regarding possible connections to other crimes or a larger network.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Weapons

Allandoe Cortez Boyd, Felon Firearm Possession, Georgia 2018

Feb 22, 2018

Weapons

Jddarrian Christopher Irons, Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Florida 2024

Apr 8, 2026

Weapons

Melvin Yip, Firearms Conviction, Texas 2016

Dec 23, 2016

Weapons

Cole Dylan Cooper, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, West Virginia 2019

May 9, 2019