A Chicago man known on social media as “O’Block Switchyion” has been arrested on federal weapons charges after authorities say he was caught with a modified Glock pistol equipped with both a switch and a silencer — two illegal alterations that turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon and make it subject to strict federal laws.
According to federal officials, the arrest took place in early October 2025. Prosecutors allege Switchyion had the gun, which had been illegally modified to fire automatically and suppress its sound. Both devices are prohibited under federal law, and their combination is considered especially dangerous.
Sources familiar with the investigation say Switchyion has ties to O’Block, a housing complex in Chicago’s Parkway Gardens neighborhood long associated with gang activity and federal scrutiny. He also has a prior felony conviction in Georgia, which could increase his potential sentence if convicted.
Law enforcement officials told reporters that the case has drawn attention from multiple agencies and could lead to broader investigations into O’Block-connected individuals.
Federal prosecutors say the charges carry severe penalties. Possession of an unregistered machine gun is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000. The silencer charge can add up to five more years.
“These kinds of cases are taken very seriously,” a federal law enforcement source said. “When you’re talking about a gun that’s both automatic and silenced, you’re talking about a weapon designed for violence and evasion.”
Officials said that in recent years, defendants in similar cases have received sentences ranging from seven to thirteen years in prison.
The arrest comes as the Justice Department continues a nationwide effort to crack down on Glock switches — small, inexpensive devices that can convert a pistol into a machine gun. Authorities say such devices have been showing up more frequently in cities like Chicago and are often linked to violent crimes.
Federal agents have called Glock switches a “major threat,” noting that even a single shot can become a rapid burst of bullets once the device is installed. Officials say adding a silencer makes the weapon even more challenging to detect.
Switchyion’s arrest is the latest in a series of federal actions targeting individuals linked to O’Block. In previous years, several members of the group were charged under the RICO Act in connection with violent crimes, including the 2020 murder of rapper FBG Duck.
Officials say the new arrest could signal the start of additional federal indictments aimed at curbing gang-related violence and illegal firearm activity in the city.
“The message here is clear,” one federal official said. “If you’re caught with a switch or a silencer, expect a federal case — and a long prison sentence.”
