A federal grand jury has indicted Eddie Arguelles, 20, of Chicago, on a charge of illegally possessing a loaded machine gun in Riis Park, located in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. The indictment was returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court and follows a criminal complaint filed earlier in the case.
According to the charges, on May 14, 2025, Chicago Police officers responded to reports of an individual firing a gun in Riis Park. When officers arrived at the scene, Arguelles allegedly attempted to flee on a moped but lost control and fell on a football field within the park. Officers then took him into custody and discovered he was carrying a Glock handgun fitted with a conversion device known as a “Glock switch” or “auto sear,” which enables the firearm to discharge multiple rounds with one trigger pull. Arguelles remains detained without bond.
Arguelles faces one count of possession of a machine gun. If convicted, he could receive up to ten years in federal prison. His arraignment is scheduled for September 17, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez. The U.S. Attorney’s Office intends to seek continued pre-trial detention for Arguelles.
The announcement was made by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wesley Morrissette is prosecuting the case.
The investigation involves coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in Chicago. The CGIC operates as an interagency hub focused on investigating and preventing gun violence across northern Illinois by bringing together law enforcement officers from various agencies along with prosecutors and intelligence analysts.
“The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
