WORCESTER – A local man faces charges firearms charges after being found in possession of Glock switches.
Jose Rivera, 24, of Worcester, made an initial appearance in Worcester Federal Court on Tuesday on charges of unlawful possession of a machine gun. Federal District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy ordered Rivera detained pending a hearing scheduled for March 10.
A Glock switch converts a Glock pistol, which is manufactured as a semi-automatic firearm, into a fully automatic weapon. Federal law considers the devices a machine gun.
According to federal prosecutors, three Glock switches were found during a search of Rivera’s home on Tuesday. A Glock firearm, with a Glock switch attached, was also located.
The charge of unlawful possession of a machine gun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
