15 convicted, more charged for crimes involving ‘switches’

May 22, 2023

Tristyn Stoop,

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A district attorney says 15 people have been convicted for crimes involving “switches.”

According to a news release from the district attorney’s office, a switch is a machine gun conversion device, which convert a “semiautomatic firearm into a machine gun capable of firing dozens of rounds of ammunition in a couple of seconds.”

The news release says the following have been convicted and sentenced:

Prenagio Baines, a member violent hybrid street gang in Memphis, was found with a .40 caliber pistol with a machine gun conversion device attached.
Daniel Banks dropped a firearm with a switch after running on foot from a traffic stop.
Justin Hardaway, a member of the Grape Street Crips in Memphis, was driving a stolen Dodge Charger that, when searched, revealed a .40 caliber Glock handgun with a machine gun conversion device attached.
Terrance Jones was found to have discarded a firearm with the switch after a shooting incident at Young Dolph’s memorial.
Daniel Kirtman was arrested and agents seized a Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device.
Michael Thomas sold and possessed multiple machine gun conversion devices.
Michael Naylor worked at a gun store and was selling machine guns, switches, and other firearms.

The release says the following have been convicted of federal crimes involving switches and are awaiting sentencing:

Kameron Chatman was seen in a Facebook video with a switch.
Avonta Gregory, a member of the AOB violent hybrid street gang in Memphis, pled guilty to possessing a Glock firearm with a 22-round magazine and a machine gun conversion device.
Martavious Hodges, a member of the Fast Cash violent hybrid street gang in Memphis, sold firearms with switches.
Cameron Person‘s home was searched by law enforcement, revealing four switches, materials to put together another one, and two firearms.
Michael Rimmer, Jr. had two had switches.
Mitchell Shaw pled guilty in federal court in Jackson to possessing a machine gun.
Maurice Wilson possessed a switch and pled guilty to firearm crimes.
Dionco Lowe was found to have a machine gun conversion device.

The following are facing charges of crimes involving switches:

Nakiel Addison indicted for federal gun crimes, including possessing a firearm with a switch.
Khamron Roberts was indicted for federal gun crimes, including possessing a firearm with a switch.
Roosevelt Wilson was indicted for federal gun crimes.
Jaquan Bridges was indicted for possessing a machine gun.
Jaqerious Conner was indicted for drug and gun crimes, including possession of a machine gun.
Quatavious Doggett was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.
Pariss Johnson, Paris Brown, and Leroy Cloyd were indicted for possessing machine guns.
Timothy Williams was indicted for being a felon in possession of firearms and other crimes.
Eddie Martinez was indicted for possession of a machine gun.