Teen Pleads Guilty to Federal Machine Gun Charge After Highway Shooting

Juan Angel Rendon, 18, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun after firing a modified Glock out of a moving vehicle.Photo byCody WingfieldonUnsplash

A Texas man who fired a machine gun out the window of a moving vehicle on a public highway has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge, the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Texas announced today.

Juan Angel Rendon, 18, was charged via criminal complaint in September and later indicted in October. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Court records show that on August 27, 2024, Rendon sold a 9mm Glock pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a "switch," to an undercover ATF agent.

During the sale, which took place at Rendon's mobile home, he demonstrated how to install and operate the device to convert the gun to fully automatic fire, court documents state.

At a detention hearing, federal agents testified that Rendon had advertised Glock switches for sale on his Instagram account, court filings show.

Prosecutors presented a video from Rendon’s account showing him firing a switch-equipped Glock out of the window of a moving vehicle on a public highway, with other cars visible in the background, the department stated.

Upon Rendon’s arrest in September, agents recovered nine firearms, including two outfitted with switches, along with seven additional switches or switch parts, according to the criminal complaint.

“The brazenness of Mr. Rendon shown here does not surprise me. We are seeing similar videos all around the country, which is why ATF is doubling down on our unwavering commitment to stopping the spread of machine gun conversion devices,” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II said in a statement.

“Firing a machinegun wildly in public, while being filmed, may have made Mr. Rendon feel like a gangster that evening. However, he will now have plenty of time in prison to think about how isn’t a modern-day Capone.”