ST. PAUL, MN – Marques Dwell Armstrong, Jr., 28, of Minneapolis is headed to federal prison for a decade after a jury convicted him of turning a Glock pistol into a fully automatic weapon. Armstrong was sentenced yesterday by Senior Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court, receiving two concurrent 120-month terms for illegal possession of a machinegun and illegal possession of a firearm. A seven-month consecutive sentence was added for a prior violation of supervised release, bringing his total time behind bars to eleven months over ten years.
The case unfolded after authorities discovered Armstrong in possession of a loaded 9mm Glock pistol on October 12, 2021. The weapon wasn’t just a handgun; it had been fitted with a “switch” – a machinegun conversion device – effectively transforming it into a fully automatic firearm capable of rapid, sustained fire. The pistol was also equipped with a high-capacity magazine, exacerbating the danger posed by the illegal modification.
Prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Albania Concepcion, presented evidence at trial demonstrating Armstrong’s unlawful possession of the modified weapon. The jury didn’t buy Armstrong’s defense, returning a guilty verdict on February 16, 2023, on both counts. The swift conviction and harsh sentence signal a clear message from federal authorities regarding the proliferation of illegal firearms in the city.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minneapolis Police Department. Sources within the ATF stated the “switch” used to convert the Glock is increasingly common in street crimes, turning otherwise legally obtained handguns into instruments of extreme violence. The agency is prioritizing investigations into the source and distribution of these conversion devices.
This isn’t just about a single illegal gun; it’s about a growing trend of weapon modifications that law enforcement officials say is fueling violent crime. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger’s office has made firearms enforcement a key priority, promising continued aggressive prosecution of those who illegally possess or modify weapons. The Armstrong case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences.
Armstrong’s prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release, during which he will be monitored by federal probation officers. While the sentence offers a temporary reprieve from Armstrong’s criminal activity, the case highlights the ongoing battle against illegal firearms and the constant threat they pose to public safety in Minneapolis and beyond.
Related Federal Cases
- Marques Armstrong, Machinegun Possession, Minneapolis MN, 2023 · Minnesota
- Patrick Opdahl, Machinegun Possession, North Dakota 2024 · North Dakota
- Robbinsdale Man, 42, Indicted for Machinegun Possession · Alabama
- River William Smith Charged with Machine Gun Possession and Hand Grenade Attempt, Minneapolis MN, 2022 · California
- Rafael Wesley, Machinegun Ring, Minneapolis MN, 2023 · Minnesota
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