Q’Tez Laquan Ginn, a 19-year-old from Indianapolis, has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison. This follows his guilty plea for possession of a machine gun. After serving his sentence, Ginn will undergo three years of supervised release.
Machine gun conversion devices, often referred to as "Glock switches" or "auto-sears," transform semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. Under federal law, these devices are classified as machine guns and are illegal for individuals to possess or sell.
Court documents reveal that in August 2024, Ginn was observed with an AR-style pistol in a parking lot suspected of narcotics trafficking. Later the same day, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers found him with marijuana and a pistol inside a vehicle. He was charged with felony dealing marijuana while already out on bond for resisting law enforcement in Marion County.
While detained, Ginn instructed family members via phone calls to relocate and store his firearms and controlled substances at a known family residence. He maintained control over these items during his incarceration.
In September 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the specified home. They discovered a black duffel bag containing a Glock handgun, two AR-style pistols, multiple magazines, including two loaded high-capacity drum-style magazines. Both the Glock handgun and one AR-style pistol had machine gun conversion devices installed.
John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana stated: “Machine gun conversion devices only exacerbate the already dire situation of individuals using firearms for violent purposes. In a city already overwhelmed by gun violence, these devices contribute to further instability for community members and law enforcement.” He praised the IMPD and ATF for their commitment to tackling gun violence in Indianapolis.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside IMPD conducted the investigation leading to this sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress also expressed gratitude towards Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Domash who prosecuted the case.
