A multi‑agency probation compliance check on April 27 ended with the arrest of a 26‑year‑old Indianapolis man after detectives say they spotted a handgun outfitted with a machine‑gun conversion device at a home in the 7200 block of Carlsen Avenue. Police identified the suspect as Tony Hopkins Jr. and said they sought and executed search warrants after officers reported seeing contraband in plain view inside the house and a vehicle.
Photos and a brief rundown of the operation were posted May 4 by IMPD News, which lists the case number as IP260032674 and notes that Hopkins was arrested on a preliminary allegation of possessing a machine gun. According to the post, the check was carried out by the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force in partnership with Marion County Probation as part of ongoing efforts to keep firearms away from people who are barred from having them.
What investigators say they found
Detectives said they "observed illegal contraband in plain view" inside the residence and in a vehicle, then later recovered a handgun equipped with a machine‑gun conversion device from the car, according to a summary republished by Country Herald. Officers then applied for and executed search warrants tied to the April 27 probation compliance visit, the outlet reported.
Why conversion devices draw heavy charges
Conversion devices, often nicknamed "Glock switches" or auto sears, are treated as machine guns under federal law, meaning simple possession can bring federal and state machine‑gun charges. Prosecutors have increasingly taken these cases to court, and Marion County has seen a notable rise in prosecutions tied to conversion devices in recent years, according to WISH‑TV.
Case status and next steps
According to IMPD's social media post, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make the final call on charges in case number IP260032674. Hopkins is accused at this stage and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Investigators indicated they will continue working the case while prosecutors review the file and decide whether to pursue formal charges.
The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force is described as a multi‑jurisdictional partnership that brings together local, state and federal agencies across central Indiana counties to focus on illegal guns and violent offenders, according to documentation from the U.S. Attorney's Office. This story will be updated as charging documents or court filings become available.
