A local and federal investigation led to a SWAT team arresting a Winthrop Harbor teen after he was found purchasing and importing machine gun conversion devices from outside of the United States.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) said Thursday that they worked with the United States Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations to conduct an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old boy for purchasing machine gun conversion devices.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said SIG received information that the teen purchased machine gun conversion devices from outside of the United States and was having them shipped to a neighbor’s home near his residence in Winthrop Harbor.
Detectives believe the teen had the devices shipped to the neighbor’s home to avoid connecting him or his home with the purchase.
A package was delivered to the neighbor’s home on Wednesday and the teen retrieved the package, Covelli said.
He was taken into custody by members of SIG and Lake County Sheriff’s SWAT after taking the package.
Covelli said a total of eight machine gun conversion devices that the teen had purchased were seized.
SIG and SWAT conducted a search warrant at the teen’s home following his arrest.
No additional conversion devices or firearms were located at the home.
Detectives believe the teen was likely going to sell the conversion devices to others for profit, Covelli said.
“It is troubling to see such a young person involved in the purchase and potential distribution of machine gun conversion devices. These devices endanger everyone and stopping their spread is a responsibility we take seriously,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“I am grateful for the collaboration we have with our local and federal law enforcement agencies and proud of the work of our SIG and SWAT teams,” Idleburg added.
The teen is being petitioned to juvenile court on eight counts of unlawful possession of machine gun parts, a Class 2 felony.