PLANT CITY, Fla. – Authorities in Florida have uncovered a disturbing case of a convicted felon’s illicit activities involving the smuggling of machinegun conversion devices, known as “Glock switches,” into the United States.
According to the criminal complaint, in April 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a suspicious package shipped from Shenzhen, China, destined for a residence in Plant City, Florida.
Upon inspection, the package was found to contain a staggering 63 machinegun conversion devices – a clear violation of federal law.
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These devices, commonly referred to as “Glock switches,” are illegal modifications that transform a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon, a classification that falls under the National Firearms Act.
Authorities quickly identified the intended recipient of the illicit package as Phillip Michael Valeriani, a 41-year-old resident of Plant City. Following this lead, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Valeriani’s residence, where they uncovered a trove of incriminating evidence.
In addition to the Glock switches, the search yielded an array of firearms, including a pistol with a foldable stock and a Glock switch, a silencer, ammunition, narcotics, a tactical vest with ballistic plates, and even FBI and DEA raid jackets.
Valeriani now faces a daunting array of federal charges, including smuggling machinegun conversion devices into the United States, possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possession of unregistered machineguns and a silencer.
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If convicted, he could potentially face up to 20 years in federal prison for the machinegun conversion device smuggling charge, an additional 15 years for the felon-in-possession charge, and up to 10 years for the possession of unregistered machineguns and a silencer.
Glock switches are a growing concern for law enforcement and policymakers alike. These illegal modifications transform semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons, dramatically increasing their rate of fire and lethality.
This poses a significant threat to public safety, as these modified firearms can inflict devastating harm in the hands of individuals with criminal intent.
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