DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Mississippi

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Todd W. Gee
, United States Attorney

Jackson Man Arrested for Illegal Possession of Machinegun Conversion Device aka Switch

JACKSON, Miss. — A Jackson man was arrested today and taken into federal custody for illegal possession of a machinegun by possessing a Glock pistol that had a machinegun conversion device (MCD) attached to it, commonly known as a “switch.”

According to court documents, on Friday, Feb. 9, Kylin Demond Russell, 22, led Capitol Police officers on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of up to 120 mph, after failing to yield for a traffic stop. When his vehicle ultimately came to a stop, he attempted to flee on foot, was detained, and two Glock pistols with attached MCDs were found in the vehicle. Capitol Police contacted the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The vehicle driven by Russell appears to match the description of a vehicle seen in a video, taken by a citizen in Jackson and widely distributed on-line, showing a person firing a weapon from the vehicle.

Russell had his initial court appearance today before a United States Magistrate Judge. He was denied bond and ordered detained. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of ATF made the announcement.

The case is being investigated by the ATF and Capitol Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.

This arrest is a result of Operation Unified and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), both of which are coordinated efforts between state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. Agencies participating in Operation Unified include the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Narcotics; Capitol Police and Office of Homeland Security; the Jackson Police Department; the Hinds County District Attorney and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office; the Mississippi Department of Corrections; FBI; DEA; and ATF, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The PSN Program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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New Orleans Field Division