Dallas Gang Member Arrested for Alleged Possession of Illegal Machinegun, Faces Federal Charges

Leigha Simonton, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said a 19-year-old Dallas gang member is being kept in jail pending trial on allegations of possessing a machine gun. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Johnny Bates was arrested on November 7 on charges related to an alleged December 2023 incident in which he was caught on camera firing a Glock pistol that had been altered to operate as a fully automatic firearm. Police subsequently found the weapon during his escape.

Detectives caught Mr. Bates, who was associated with the “415 East Dallas Posse,” in October 2024. He fought during the arrest attempt at an apartment in the Oak Cliff neighborhood but was eventually taken into custody, and a 9mm Glock pistol with a gold switch was discovered. Since then, the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) has linked this firearm to another aggravated assault in Dallas; however, Bates is not a suspect in that case because, according to pictures from his Instagram showing similar weapons, a detention hearing found a pattern of owning weapons with illegal modifications.

While not conclusive proof, a criminal complaint highlights the seriousness of the case by stating that Mr. Bates could be sentenced to up to ten years in federal prison if found guilty of possessing a machinegun. The complaint also emphasizes the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Withers, and the groundwork was laid by the joint efforts of the Dallas Police Department and the ATF’s Dallas Field Division. This arrest is part of “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative that aims to combat the scourge of machinegun conversion devices, also known as “switches,” which illegally convert semi-automatic firearms into dangerously fast fully-automatic weapons. The Justice Department reports that these efforts are strengthened through partnerships with local law enforcement and incentive programs by Crime Stoppers.

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