A 22-year-old Chicago man, Latavion Johnson, is facing federal gun charges after allegedly displaying illegal machine gun parts and firing a machine gun on social media. The case involves aftermarket devices known as “Glock switches” or “sear switches," which can convert firearms into automatic weapons.
According to federal officials, Johnson posted videos of himself with a gun equipped with a sear switch and shared images of the switch next to a stack of cash. Between February and October, a federal agent observed multiple videos on Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to Johnson. In a Facebook video posted in February, Johnson showcased a firearm with a gold sear switch, toggling the switch between semi-automatic and fully automatic modes.
During the video, Johnson can be heard saying, “Switchy, this thing b**ch easy to push,” while demonstrating the switch’s functionality. He also made machine gun sounds like “brrr brrr” and offered to “blow the switch outside” if 20 people joined his livestream. In another Instagram video from February, Johnson can be seen firing off several bullets with a single trigger pull, boasting about how he flawlessly handled the switch.
Johnson now faces one count of possessing a machine gun, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Following the execution of a search warrant at Johnson’s residence last week, the charges were brought against him.
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