A routine traffic stop near the Valley Shopping Center on Reading Road has turned into a federal case for two Cincinnati men now accused of possessing illegal machine guns.
Michael Goss, 18, and Felix Burnette, 22, were arrested in March after officers say they discovered devices that convert handguns into fully automatic weapons. The two, both from Cincinnati, were hit with federal indictments this week and appeared in federal court on Tuesday, according to WLWT.
Each man faces a separate indictment on one count of illegally possessing a machine gun. Federal investigators say the seized handguns were outfitted with a "Glock switch" — a small conversion device — and the U.S. Attorney's Office framed the prosecutions as part of a broader push to bring federal firearms charges in Cincinnati.
Why Investigators Are Watching 'Glock Switches'
Those tiny switches have become a big problem for law enforcement. Officials say the devices can send a pistol's rate of fire through the roof, effectively turning a standard handgun into a fully automatic weapon.
According to WCPO, Cincinnati prosecutors and ATF agents are now recovering Glock switches "on a weekly basis" as they work to track how the parts are being manufactured and sold.
Legal Consequences and Next Steps
Under federal law, both the conversion devices and the handguns equipped with them are treated as machine guns. 18 U.S.C. § 922 generally prohibits possession of machine guns, and violating that statute can mean serious prison time.
Federal authorities point to prior sentencing to show how harsh those penalties can be. ATF press releases highlight cases where defendants have received multi-year federal prison sentences for possessing handguns fitted with Glock switches.
Both Goss and Burnette appeared in federal court on Tuesday, and the U.S. Attorney's Office said the cases reflect a commitment to getting these conversion devices off Cincinnati streets. "Public safety in Cincinnati is top priority," U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said, according to WLWT.
For now, the future of the two cases will play out in court filings and hearing dates. Upcoming proceedings will determine whether prosecutors pursue additional charges or negotiate plea agreements as the cases move forward through the federal system.
