41 arrested in ATF, Chicago police sting targeting machine-gun conversion devices
Story by Michael Loria, USA TODAY • 7h
CHICAGO – An operation targeting trafficked illegal firearms and machine-gun conversion devices linked to "violent criminal activity" in Chicago and across the United States yielded over 40 arrests, federal and local authorities said.
As part of the initiative, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chicago Police Department announced on Aug. 5 the arrests of 41 people, including a person who was previously convicted of threatening a mass shooting, the recovery of 171 firearms, and 64 machine-gun conversion devices. The two-month initiative was led by the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago.
"This operation directly addresses the proliferation of machine-gun devices inflicting trauma in our communities," said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling. "Far too many lives have been lost to the senseless violence that only becomes more dangerous and fatal because of these conversion devices."
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Court records show the operation consisted of a scheme where people sold conversion devices to undercover agents. Of the 41 cases, 18 are being prosecuted in federal court, the ATF said. The remaining 23 cases are being coordinated by Multi-Jurisdiction Bureau Chief Maureen McCurry of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Assistant Attorney General Greg Gansmann of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
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