Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

PEORIA, Ill. – A Bloomington, Illinois, man, Javares L. Hudson, 21, of the 600 block of Monroe Street, was charged by federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2022, with possessing a machinegun. Hudson appeared in federal court in Peoria today in front of Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley for an initial appearance, at which the complaint against him was unsealed.

Hudson is specifically charged with possessing a device that is used to convert a conventional semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic firearm. Such devices are commonly referred to as “switches”, “auto-sears,” or “conversion devices,” among other names.

Magistrate Judge Hawley ordered that Hudson be detained. He remains in state custody pending further proceedings.

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crime charged are up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.

Hudson was previously arrested and charged by state authorities earlier this week. The case was brought as part of an ongoing, collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement to curb possession of these illegal conversion devices. Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Bloomington Police Department; and the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna is representing the government in the prosecution.

Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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