CHICAGO, IL – Rogelio Castaneda, 30, of Chicago, is headed to federal prison for nearly six years after admitting to flooding the streets with illegally obtained firearms and dangerous “switch” devices. The sentencing, handed down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman, reflects the severity of Castaneda’s role in fueling Chicago’s ongoing gun violence epidemic.
Federal authorities say Castaneda brazenly sold nine firearms, including three privately made, unlicensed guns, and a staggering 28 “Glock switches” – devices that turn semi-automatic weapons into illegal machine guns – to undercover agents over just three months last year. The transactions took place not only in Chicago but also in nearby Stickney, Illinois, and Hammond, Indiana, demonstrating the reach of his illicit operation.
What makes this case particularly galling? Castaneda was already on pre-trial release for a separate firearms charge in Cook County court when he began peddling weapons again. This blatant disregard for the law didn’t go unnoticed by prosecutors, who argued in sentencing memos that Glock switches and converted firearms pose a “grave threat to public safety” and are designed for “maximum damage.”
The case was spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Chicago Police Department (CPD), and with assistance from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This multi-agency effort is part of the Department of Justice’s Firearms Trafficking Strike Force, a nationwide initiative aimed at disrupting the flow of illegal guns.
Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual emphasized that holding firearm offenders accountable is a key component of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program focused on comprehensive solutions to violent crime. This isn’t just about one man going to prison; it’s about a broader strategy to dismantle networks that supply weapons used in shootings across the city.
Castaneda pleaded guilty in December 2023 to one count of unlawfully possessing a machine gun. Judge Gettleman imposed a 70-month sentence – a significant penalty that sends a message to others involved in illegal firearms trafficking. Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon of the ATF’s Chicago Field Division and Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling both praised the collaborative effort that brought Castaneda to justice, but acknowledged that the fight against gun violence in Chicago is far from over.
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