An 18-year-old Chicago man is facing federal charges for selling two machine gun conversion devices to an undercover agent who saw them in an Instagram post, according to a criminal complaint. The devices, often known as “Glock switches,” are illegal modifications that can turn certain pistols into fully automatic machine guns.
The complaint claims Dakotah Malatore was aware of the devices’ capabilities because he informed the agent they would make a gun go “brrr,” mimicking the sound of a machine gun.
On April 22, the undercover agent was monitoring the now-deactivated Instagram account “mr.tiponurtongue” when a video was posted showing two weapons on a bed, one with a Glock switch, according to the complaint.
The agent commented, “Need,” causing the account to respond, “You trying to cop?” The agent replied, “Yahh.” “Are you going to hook me up?” In subsequent discussions, the agent discussed the purchase of the devices using coded phrases such as “buttons” and “switch.”
On April 30, at about 2:30 p.m., the undercover agent and a second agent proceeded to a 7-Eleven parking lot at 3600 West Belmont to meet someone named “Rico” to execute the deal.
Shortly after they arrived, Malatore approached the agents’ car and entered the back seat, presenting himself as Dakotah rather than “Rico.”
According to the lawsuit, Malatore allegedly offered to sell two switches for $400, one for a Glock handgun and another for an AR-style weapon, claiming, “It makes the AR go brrrr.”
Following the transaction, the agents examined a Chicago Police Department database for people named “Dakotah” and identified Malatore using a mug shot. According to the complaint, they established his identification using a photo from his driver’s license.
He is accused of deliberately acquiring and transferring machine weapons.
