A Mississippi man faces substantial prison time after pleading guilty to having a machine gun. On June 4, 2025, Atrell Galloway Jr., 21, pleaded guilty in federal court to the dangerous offense, bringing an investigation that began with a routine traffic stop to an end.
The investigation into Galloway’s illicit firearm possession began on June 9, 2024. Capitol Police officers stopped a car on Lynch Street for a traffic violation. The discovery of narcotics in plain view swiftly inflamed the situation, necessitating a thorough search of the vehicle.
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That search led to a startling discovery: a Glock Model 45 handgun equipped with a “switch”—a “gadget that instantaneously turns a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machine gun. Capitol Police quickly seized the handgun and turned over the case to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The ATF’s follow-up investigation provided a clear picture. After obtaining a search warrant for Galloway’s cell phone, agents discovered images of the illegally modified firearm, complete with its serial number displayed. Even more damaging were text exchanges discussing the compatibility of “switches” with various Glock handgun models.
Galloway was forthright during his guilty plea hearing. He admits to buying 10 machine gun conversion devices online and, more troubling, placing the “switch” on the recovered weapon himself.
Galloway is now scheduled for sentencing on September 4, 2025, and faces up to ten years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will decide his destiny, taking into account the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other legal issues.
The successful prosecution was announced by Acting United States Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. The ATF led the investigation, while the Capitol Police Department provided critical support.
