Indiana Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Trafficking in Machinegun Conversion Devices
LONDON, Ky. — Bailey Tyler Monde, 20, of Freetown, Indiana, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully transfer machineguns and one count of unlawful transfer of a machinegun.
According to Monde’s guilty plea agreement, he admitted to trafficking in machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “Glock switches,” which are designed to convert a Glock-type pistol into a fully automatic machinegun. Monde admitted to using Facebook Messenger for selling stand-alone Glock switches, including 10 switches sold at one time in Corbin, Kentucky, as well as selling Glock handguns with the Glock switches installed on the weapons. A Glock switch, by itself, qualifies as a “machinegun” under federal law.
“Machinegun conversion devises are incredibly dangerous, and often quite simple to use,” said Carlton S. Shier IV, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “They easily convert handguns into fully automatic weapons that can fire a remarkable number of shots in just seconds. They are an acute danger to our communities, illegal under federal law and a critical priority in our efforts to combat violent crime. With our valued partners at the ATF, we will do all we can to eliminate these frightening devices.”
“Machine guns are closely regulated because, in the wrong hands, they pose a deadly threat to our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “This investigation showed how Bailey Monde worked to put dangerous machine gun conversion devices on the street and disregarded the safety of our communities. I commend the work of the ATF London Office and the United States Attorney’s Office, and I hope the message is clear that we aggressively pursue firearms traffickers and sources of crime guns.”
Under federal law, Monde must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, and upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
U.S. Attorney Shier and Special Agent in Charge Morrow, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosenberg.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state and local law enforcement officials.
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