Minnesota Man Admits Guilt: Selling Illegal Machine Gun Devices

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Minneapolis, Mn (KROC-AM News) - A Twin Cities man has entered a guilty plea to a federal charge stemming from an investigation into the illegal sale of devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into "machine guns."

According to the US Attorney for Minnesota, 29-year-old Jehle Zwack of Burnsville admitted to one count of possession of a machine gun. Court documents say he was working at a Federal Firearms Licensee business when he was caught selling 3D-printed machine gun conversion devices, often known as "switches" or "auto sears."

The criminal charges allege an undercover agent working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Dakota County Drug Task Force went to the business where Zwack was working on March 7, 2023, and purchased 11 of the devices. Court documents indicate the conversion devices were designed to work with a semi-automatic AR-type firearm.

Federal prosecutors say a search warrant was then executed at Zwack's home a week later. That led to the seizure of a 9 mm pistol from his vehicle, along with a shotgun and ammunition found inside the residence. A storage locker was also searched and agents found additional firearms, suspected homemade silencers, ammunition, and a suspected "destructive device."

Zwack's sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.