Fort Worth Man Arrested for Making 3D Machine Gun Conversion Devices

DALLAS, TX – MAY 05: Smith and Wesson handguns are displayed during the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on May 5, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. The National Rifle Association’s annual meeting and exhibit runs through Sunday. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

WFAA – (WBAP/KLIF)- A Fort Worth man faces federal charges with alleged manufacture and selling of 3D printed machine gun conversion devices. Federal officials say they seized more than 650 conversion or “switch” devices; when put into pistols and semi-automatic rifles, they convert the weapons into free-fire machine guns.

Fort Worth law enforcement is reported to be seeing an increase in shootings iwth these conversion devices this year. Xavier Desean Watson faces up to a decade in federal prison if convicted.

A news release suggests undercover ATF agents bought 33 conversion devices, and a 3D printed AR-15 style pistol from Watson, who allegedly told agents he could produce about 400 switches every day.