In a federal court ruling that underscores the legal repercussions of modifying firearms, a Memphis man has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm conversion device. Kalen Thompson, aged 25, was sentenced for having a so-called "Glock switch" attached to a 9mm Glock pistol, which effectively transformed the semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic gun. Upon completion of his sentence, Thompson also faces three years of supervised release, Action News 5 reported.
The Memphis Police Department first encountered Thompson on Sept. 15, 2023, in what began as a search for a suspected robber in the Raleigh area. It was then that authorities discovered the modified firearm, later found to have been stolen about eight months prior. In addition to sentencing, the judge's decision marks Thompson's plea of guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun back in February 2025, as stated in a release from the United States Attorney's Office of Tennessee's Western District cited by Local Memphis.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a concerted effort between law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The initiative underscores a nationwide commitment to curtailing the proliferation of illegal firearms conversions, which are a concern for public safety due to their capacity to inflict mass casualties.
Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman officiated the sentencing, which came after Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. "The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings all levels of law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence," reported FOX13 Memphis. The project's involvement in the investigation reflects a growing focus on partnerships to address gun-related crime.
