A Jackson man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for illegal possession of a machinegun. Johnny Ragsdale, 21, was found with the weapon following an attempted traffic stop that escalated into a high-speed chase. The incident concluded when Ragsdale's vehicle collided with a train car on Mill Street. A Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, known as a switch, was recovered from the scene.
Ragsdale faced indictment by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024, and pled guilty on October 24, 2024. The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports an increase in cases involving illegal firearm conversion devices like switches or auto sears, which can convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons swiftly. These conversions pose significant risks to public safety and law enforcement.
A report from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) highlighted a 570% rise in machinegun conversion devices seized between 2017 and 2021. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the sentencing.
The ATF and Capitol Police Department conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration among law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities, support for community-based violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
