A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison on May 5 for illegally possessing a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device known as a "Glock switch," according to an announcement from Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Shyheem Jaqun DuPont, age 24, received a sentence of 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
The case highlights law enforcement's ongoing efforts to address the dangers posed by illegal firearm modifications. The presence of Glock switches can significantly increase the risk associated with firearms by converting them into fully automatic weapons.
"Glock switches turn a regular gun into a machine gun. They can turn a violent act into a catastrophic act in mere seconds," said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. "We save lives by aggressively prosecuting individuals who possess and use these illegal conversion devices."
According to court documents, on February 21, 2024, officers from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department stopped DuPont’s vehicle in a parking lot after learning he had multiple outstanding felony arrest warrants. During the encounter, DuPont reversed his car twice into the marked police vehicle before officers approached and saw him holding a firearm on his lap. Officers recovered several firearms from the vehicle, including two Glock models—one fitted with the illegal switch—a Springfield semiautomatic firearm, high-capacity magazines, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
DuPont pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025 to possession of a machinegun and remains in federal custody pending transfer to federal prison facilities designated by authorities.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and officers from CMPD. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative focused on combating illegal immigration and organized crime while protecting communities against violent offenders.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil matters for its jurisdiction covering parts of western North Carolina—including portions of Great Smoky Mountains National Park—and employs nearly 100 prosecutors and staff who work alongside law enforcement partners on public safety initiatives according to the official website.
