A Middletown, Delaware, resident was arrested on Thursday, August 1, 2024, and charged with illegally possessing machineguns, announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.
According to court documents prosecutors claim, Eric Quinn, 36, ordered and received Glock auto sears, also known as “Glock switches,” from China. Glock auto sears are conversion devices designed and created for the sole purpose of converting semi-automatic Glock pistols into fully automatic machineguns. When installed properly, Glock auto sears allow a firearm to expel more than one projectile by a single pull of the trigger, at a rate of approximately 1,200 rounds per minute prosecutors said Monday.
Readers will remember our report from Thursday about the SWAT team being present at a home in a Middletown development.
Officials said a criminal complaint charges Quinn, who officials say is a convicted felon, with possessing machineguns as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. If convicted of these charges, Quinn faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, conducted the investigation in this matter, along with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan C. Williamson is prosecuting the case.