Federal Authorities Seize Two Website Domains Used to Import Illegal Machine Gun Conversion Devices and Silencers from China

BOSTON – Federal authorities in Boston seized two internet domains and two cryptocurrency accounts that were allegedly used for the illegal importation of machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) from China. MCDs commonly known as “switches” or “sears” are parts designed to convert semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic machineguns. Possession of these items and their importation from certain countries, including China, are prohibited under the National Firearms Act (NFA). In addition, during the course of this investigation, 3,093 machine gun conversion devices (switches and auto sears) were seized along with 282 firearms; 124 silencers; and over 12,000 rounds of ammunition.

According to the court documents, beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2025, federal authorities began targeting multiple websites, businesses and individuals selling, offering for sale, importing and exporting machinegun conversion devices. Through undercover purchases from the website domains and MCD vendors promoting the sale of NFA-prohibited items – it was confirmed that the domains were being used to sell MCDs. Cryptocurrency accounts used by the MCD vendors to facilitate their sales were also later identified.

To conceal the alleged illegal importation, the contraband items sold from the domains were allegedly smuggled inside air cargo shipments from China to government-controlled mailboxes in the United States. The MCDs were packaged with other goods and were never properly declared with United States Customs.  

It is further alleged that the website domains trafficked counterfeit goods and unlawfully used the Glock, Inc. trademark by offering purported “Glock” switches for sale. In reality however, Glock, Inc. has never manufactured switches.

Federal authorities ultimately established probable cause to seize for forfeiture the internet domains and funds within the cryptocurrency wallets which were used in connection with the scheme to import MCDs. Visitors to the websites will now be directed to a landing page indicating that the domain has been seized:

To date, the operation led by the District of Massachusetts targeting MCD vendors, has led to the seizure of approximately 360 internet domains and over 3,000 MCDs, 282 firearms, 124 silencers, over 12,000 rounds ammunition and approximately 125 investigative referrals.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Boston Field Office and National Targeting Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit and Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit obtained the seizure warrants in this case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.