Memphis Man Sentenced 40 Months Federal Prison Illegal Glock Switch Possession

Kalen Thompson, a 25-year-old Memphis man, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm conversion device known as a "Glock switch," which converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. Thompson was found with the modified stolen 9mm Glock pistol during a police search for a robbery suspect in September 2023, and he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun in February 2025. Following his prison term, Thompson will serve three years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite and presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. Authorities emphasize the dangers posed by illegal firearm conversion devices due to their potential to inflict mass casualties.