CINCINNATI, OH – Two Cincinnati men are facing federal prison time after admitting to illegally possessing devices capable of turning ordinary handguns into machineguns. Ronnell Aaron Clay, 21, and Taviyon Broussard, 20, each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to possessing what are commonly known as ‘Glock switches’ – small, inexpensive mechanisms that allow a semi-automatic firearm to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.
The case against Clay unfolded after a routine traffic stop on August 22, 2023. Cincinnati police pulled Clay over after he allegedly crossed double yellow lines. A search of his vehicle revealed a Glock pistol with a missing backplate, alongside a stash of crack cocaine. A more thorough search uncovered a gold Glock switch. Investigators quickly discovered Clay wasn’t just possessing the device; he was actively trying to profit from the illegal trade, advertising Glock switches for sale on his Instagram account in the Cincinnati area.
Broussard’s case stems from an incident on November 8, 2022, where he was found to be in possession of a modified firearm equipped with a 3D-printed Glock conversion device. The proliferation of these 3D-printed switches has become a growing concern for law enforcement, allowing individuals to bypass traditional manufacturing and serial number regulations, making them harder to trace.
Federal authorities are cracking down on these devices, classifying them as illegal machineguns – fully automatic weapons heavily restricted under federal law. Possessing such a weapon carries a hefty penalty: up to 10 years in prison. The ultimate sentence for both Clay and Broussard will be determined by the court, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a later hearing.
The guilty pleas were announced jointly by U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and Ashley N. Brucato are prosecuting the cases.
The ATF continues to investigate the source of these illegal conversion devices, aiming to dismantle the network supplying them and curb the growing threat of improvised machineguns on the streets of Cincinnati and beyond. This case underscores the ongoing battle against the illegal modification and possession of firearms, and the commitment of federal and local agencies to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals.
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- Antonio White, Machinegun Trafficking, Cincinnati OH, 2024 · Ohio
- Damarion Boyd, Glock Switch Possession, Cincinnati OH, 2023 · Ohio
- Markeith Ford, Illegal Gun Possession, Cincinnati OH, 2023 · Ohio
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