Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Large number of firearms displayed on and leaning against a table.
CHICAGO – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chicago Police Department announce results of a two-month enhanced enforcement initiative that targeted offenders believed to have illegally possessed, used, and trafficked firearms and machinegun conversion devices in the Chicagoland area.
The initiative, led by ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC), used both federal and state charges, resulting in the arrest of 41 offenders and the recovery of approximately 171 firearms, and 64 machinegun conversion devices. National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) data shows that a significant number of the recovered firearms are connected to violent criminal activity, including homicide and aggravated assault, that took place in the Chicagoland area and throughout the U.S., from 2017 through 2025.
Notable federal defendants included Alec Chisolm-Blockton, who was on parole for aggravated battery in connection with a shooting that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old. Eddie Arguelles allegedly carried out a shooting in a crowded park using a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Torrence Lindsay-Bynum, previously convicted for threatening a mass shooting, was arrested while in possession of a firearm affixed with a machinegun conversion device.
A tabletop displaying machine gun conversion devices.
“Machinegun conversion devices are increasingly being used by criminals, putting both innocent civilians and law enforcement in danger,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “This operation aggressively targeted offenders suspected of trafficking illegal machinegun conversion devices into our communities. I want to thank our federal, state, and local partners whose support of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago was integral to the success of this initiative. This multi-agency effort is a testament to what can be accomplished when we combine our resources and expertise towards a common goal of making our communities safer for all.”
“The illegal possession, use, and trafficking of firearms equipped with conversion devices pose a grave threat to public safety,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will lean into using various federal law enforcement tools and law enforcement partnerships to hold firearm offenders accountable and reduce violent crime in Chicago. We are proud to partner with ATF, CPD, and state prosecutors in this important initiative, and I commend their outstanding work to keep dangerous weapons off the streets and out of the wrong hands.”
The number of suspected machinegun conversion devices recovered by law enforcement and subsequently traced by ATF increased more than 784% nationwide between 2019 (658) and 2023 (5,816), according to the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment. In the year 2024 alone, the Chicago Police Department recovered 604 machine gun conversion devices—up from 81 in 2020.
“This operation directly addresses the proliferation of machine gun devices inflicting trauma in our communities,” said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling. “Far too many lives have been lost to the senseless violence that only becomes more dangerous and fatal because of these conversion devices.”
Firearms seized during operation.
“Combatting gun violence is my office’s highest priority, and there is no doubt the recent proliferation of MCD’s is a threat to our progress,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. “A firearm equipped with one of these devices and an extended magazine can fire off 30 rounds in less than two seconds, terrorizing our neighborhoods and too often catching innocent bystanders in the crossfire. The CGIC is a national model, and working in a collaborative fashion with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this threat is a force multiplier. This initiative is a great start, and shows what’s possible when we work together strategically.”
“State-federal partnerships, such as with the ATF, are essential to my office’s work to prevent illegal firearms from entering communities, hold gun traffickers accountable and address other gun crime cases,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Collaborations and resource sharing between all levels of law enforcement – local, state and federal – are vital in our work to prevent gun violence in Illinois.”
The 18 federal cases are being coordinated by Violent Crime Section Chief Scott Edenfield and Violent Crime Section Deputy Chief Jared Jodrey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The 23 state cases are being coordinated by Multi-Jurisdiction Bureau Chief Maureen McCurry of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Assistant Attorney General Greg Gansmann of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
Special Agent in Charge Amon, Superintendent Snelling, U.S. Attorney Boutros, State’s Attorney Burke, and Illinois Attorney General Raoul also acknowledged the valuable investigative assistance provided by our federal, state, and local partners at the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police, and Cook County Sheriff’s Police.
Federal Firearms and Machinegun Conversion Device Investigations:
United States v. Chris NEAL, Case No. 25-cr-00389 (Possession of a machinegun)
United States v. Dakotah MALATARE, Case No. 25-cr-00306 (Possession of a machinegun)
United States v. Alonzo VELASCO, Case No. 24-cr-00447 (Possession of a machinegun)
United States v. Torrence LINDSEY-BYNUM, Case No. 25-cr-00440 (Possession of a machinegun)
United States v. Eddie ARGUELLES, Case No. 25-cr-00437 (Possession of a machinegun)
United States v. Erik OCAMPO, Case No. 25-cr-00331 (Possession of a machinegun)
United States v. Gerardo IBARRA, Case No. 25-cr-00395 (Possession of a machinegun)
United States v. Joanna RICHARDSON, Case No. 25-cr-00397 (Hobbs Act robbery, firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Donte PATTERSON, Case No. 25-cr-00348 (Hobbs Act robbery, firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, carjacking)
United States v. Osbia MOORE, Case No. 25-cr-00347 (Felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Jovan ANDERSON, Case No. 25-cr-00438 (Felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Velar MAYFIELD, Case No. 25-cr-00409 (Felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Melvin DOYLE, Case No. 25-cr-00367 (Felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Alec CHISOLM-BLOCKTON, Case No. 25-cr-00428 (Felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Floyd JORDAN, Case No.25-cr-00442 (Felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Eric LATHAM, Case No. 25-cr-00190 (Felon in possession of a firearm)
United States v. Cortez FLEMING, Case No. 24-cr-00077 (Felon in possession of a firearm, dealing without a license)
United States v. Julian VENERABLE, Case No. 24-cr-00077 (Felon in possession of a firearm, dealing without a license)
State Firearms and Machinegun Conversion Device Investigations:
State of Illinois v. Demetrius MIMS (Possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Caron WEATHERS (Possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Benjamin KAMINSKI (Possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Justin ANDERSON (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Jaylan POWELL (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Montez WELLS (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Todd WILLIAMS (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Eric RAINES-SYLVESTRE (Gunrunning and possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. “JUVENILE” (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. “JUVENILE” (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun)
State of Illinois v. Xavier CARRIZALWS-LISHMAN (Gunrunning, armed violence)
State of Illinois v. Elijah DELEON (Gunrunning)
State of Illinois v. Bernard BUTLER (Attempted murder)
State of Illinois v. Jerome TOWNSEND (Armed violence)
State of Illinois v. Jerome COLEMAN (Armed violence)
State of Illinois v. Israel FERNANDEZ (Armed violence)
State of Illinois v. Joshua THOMAS (Armed violence)
State of Illinois v. Bernard SPENCER (Armed violence)
State of Illinois v. Ronald GRIGGS (Felon in possession of a firearm)
State of Illinois v. Marcus SMITH (Felon in possession of a firearm)
State of Illinois v. Michael LEWIS (Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance)
State of Illinois v. Isaiah DELEON (Unlawful purchase of a firearm)
State of Illinois v. Jabori PRYOR (Unlawful possession of a firearm)
The charges outlined in the indictments and complaints are merely allegations and not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.