A two-month enforcement initiative in the Chicagoland area led to the arrest of 41 individuals and the recovery of approximately 171 firearms and 64 machinegun conversion devices, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Chicago Police Department. The operation focused on offenders suspected of illegally possessing, using, and trafficking firearms and machinegun conversion devices.
The initiative was coordinated by ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC) and used both federal and state charges. Data from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network indicates that many of the recovered firearms are linked to violent crimes such as homicide and aggravated assault that occurred in Chicagoland and across the United States between 2017 and 2025.
Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said, “The illegal possession, use, and trafficking of firearms equipped with conversion devices pose a grave threat to public safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will lean into using various federal law enforcement tools and law enforcement partnerships to hold firearm offenders accountable and reduce violent crime in Chicago. We are proud to partner with ATF, CPD, and state prosecutors in this important initiative, and I commend their outstanding work to keep dangerous weapons off the streets and out of the wrong hands.”
Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge at ATF, stated, “Machinegun conversion devices are increasingly being used by criminals, putting both innocent civilians and law enforcement in danger. This operation aggressively targeted offenders suspected of trafficking illegal machinegun conversion devices into our communities. I want to thank our federal, state, and local partners whose support of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago was integral to the success of this initiative. This multi-agency effort is a testament to what can be accomplished when we combine our resources and expertise towards a common goal of making our communities safer for all.”
Nationally, law enforcement agencies have seen a significant rise in recovered machinegun conversion devices traced by ATF—an increase exceeding 784% between 2019 (658 devices) and 2023 (5,816 devices), based on data from the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment. In Chicago alone during 2024, police recovered 604 such devices compared with just 81 in 2020.
Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling commented on these trends: “This operation directly addresses the proliferation of machine gun devices inflicting trauma in our communities. Far too many lives have been lost to the senseless violence that only becomes more dangerous and fatal because of these conversion devices.”
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke added: “Combatting gun violence is my office’s highest priority, and there is no doubt the recent proliferation of MCD’s is a threat to our progress. A firearm equipped with one of these devices and an extended magazine can fire off 30 rounds in less than two seconds, terrorizing our neighborhoods and too often catching innocent bystanders in the crossfire. The CGIC is a national model, and working in a collaborative fashion with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this threat is a force multiplier. This initiative is a great start, and shows what’s possible when we work together strategically.”
Attorney General Kwame Raoul also emphasized collaboration: “State-federal partnerships, such as with the ATF, are essential to my office’s work to prevent illegal firearms from entering communities, hold gun traffickers accountable and address other gun crime cases,” he said. “Collaborations and resource sharing between all levels of law enforcement – local, state and federal – are vital in our work to prevent gun violence in Illinois.”
Eighteen federal cases arising from this operation are being managed by Violent Crime Section Chief Scott Edenfield and Deputy Chief Jared Jodrey at the U.S. Attorney’s Office; twenty-three state cases are overseen by Multi-Jurisdiction Bureau Chief Maureen McCurry at Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office along with Assistant Attorney General Greg Gansmann.
Officials acknowledged investigative support from several agencies including FBI; DEA; Illinois State Police; Cook County Sheriff’s Police; as well as local partners at CGIC.
Authorities reminded that charges filed remain allegations until proven otherwise: defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
