44 Defendants Charged in First Year of "Project Switch Off" as Part of Crackdown on Illegal Machinegun Conversion Devices

Law Enforcement Seize 185 Machinegun Conversion Devices and 298 Illegally Possessed Firearms

OKLAHOMA CITY – Launched just over a year ago, “Project Switch Off” continues to serve as an effective strategy to combat violent crime and targets illegal—and lethal—machinegun conversion devices (MCDs).  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma launched “Project Switch Off” on November 29, 2023.

“The clear and immediate danger of machinegun conversion devices is real, and their proliferation is ever-increasing,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.  “We simply cannot standby and ignore the deadly consequences these devices present to the public and law enforcement. Under federal law, manufacturing, selling, transporting, or possessing MCDs is illegal. My office will continue to work with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to address this emerging threat.”

“It was nearly a year ago that we stood in unison and promised to do whatever we could to keep these dangerous devices from affecting you and your neighborhoods. As the statistics show, we held true to our word. Just because our first year was successful, we cannot, and will not, rest on our investigative laurels,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “Together, with the United States Attorney’s Office and all our law enforcement partners, we will continue to work tirelessly to eradicate these devices from our communities. When we say we will not sleep until we do, we mean, will not sleep.”

PROJECT SWITCH OFF – STRATEGY

“Project Switch Off” targets MCDs, which turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns and present an elevated threat to the public and to law enforcement. Regardless of whether they are attached to a firearm, MCDs constitute machineguns under federal law, and the manufacture, sale, transport, or possession of MCDs is illegal under federal law, except in very limited circumstances.

“Project Switch Off” aims to educate the public on the danger and illegality of MCDs, train law enforcement on how to identify MCDs, remove MCDs from our streets, and hold accountable those who manufacture, sell, or possess these illegal and deadly devices.  

PROJECT SWITCH OFF - BY THE NUMBERS

Since “Project Switch Off” was launched, the following results have been achieved within the Western District of Oklahoma:

• 44 defendants were charged with federal offenses;
• 29 defendants have pled guilty or been convicted at trial;
• 18 defendants have been sentenced, with an average sentence of more than 80 months in federal prison; and
• law enforcement has seized and removed from the streets:
  • 185 MCDs;
  • two 3-D printers used to manufacture MCDs;
  • 298 firearms; and
  • 102,285 rounds of ammunition.

PROJECT SWITCH OFF - IN ACTION

Recent case examples of “Project Switch Off” include the following:

Sentencings

• Sheldon Lemont Battles, 20, was sentenced on November 5, 2024, to serve 33 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a machinegun in case number 23-CR-529. According to public record, Battles led Oklahoma City Police Department officers on a high-speed chase in November 2023 before he collided with another vehicle, which resulted in injuries to two passengers in that vehicle. Battles was arrested after a short foot pursuit, during which he discarded a firearm that police recovered and found fitted with an MCD. He pled guilty on February 21, 2024.
• Charles Lamar Scott, 36, was sentenced on May 10, 2024, to serve 25 years in federal prison for robbery of an Oklahoma City pharmacy, discharging a firearm during the robbery, and possession of a machinegun in case number 23-CR-191. According to public record, on December 26, 2022, Scott committed an armed robbery of a CVS Pharmacy, during which he violently assaulted a CVS employee, forcibly took a handgun from a retired police officer, and discharged it during the robbery. He then fired a handgun equipped with an MCD at law enforcement during his attempted escape. Scott pled guilty on September 22, 2023.

Convictions/Pleas

• Ronald Deshell Steele, Jr., 22, pled guilty on December 11, 2024, to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and unlawful possession of a machinegun in case number 24-CR-376. At sentencing, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
• Jaylen Terrell Benford, 27, pled guilty on November 26, 2024, to unlawful transfer of a machinegun in case number 24-CR-376. At sentencing, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
• Emanuel Lopez, 24, pled guilty on November 25, 2024, to transporting machineguns without a license in case number 24-CR-263. According to public record, in May and June 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Los Angeles, California, intercepted four packages shipped from China. These packages were destined for Lopez at his home in Oklahoma and contained MCDs. The packages were mislabeled as “auto parts,” “hardware accessories,” and “decorative ornaments” on the shipping manifest. At sentencing, he faces up to five years in federal prison.
• Anthony Lawrence Grizzard, 42, pled guilty on November 25, 2024, to illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction in case number 24-CR-197. According to the federal Indictment, the firearm was modified with an MCD. At sentencing, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
• Brandon Dominique Taylor, 38, pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a machinegun on November 13, 2024, in case number 24-CR-361. At sentencing, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

Charges/Indictments*

• Bruce Gordon,* 21, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury on September 5, 2024, on two counts of unlawful transfer of a machinegun, one count of unlawful transfer of multiple machineguns, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine in case number 24-CR-364. If convicted, he faces up to 70 years in federal prison.

* The public is reminded that charges are merely allegations.  All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For more information about MCDs, please see the fact sheet hyperlinked below.

ATF Fact Sheet