FORT WORTH, Texas — An 18-year-old North Texas man accused of shooting a machine gun out the window of a moving vehicle on a highway has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge, officials say.
Juan Angel Rendon pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegal possession of a machine gun.
“As we said when we launched Operation Texas Kill Switch, machinegun conversion devices are putting our communities in danger. This defendant’s conduct – shooting a switch-equipped handgun out of a moving vehicle for no apparent reason – is case in point,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton in a statement. “Weapons of war belong on the battlefield, not the streets North Texas streets. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly pursue anyone who manufactures, sells, or possesses machinegun conversion devices.”
Rendon was arrested in September. Police say they recovered nine firearms during his arrest. Two of those guns were equipped with switches, which can convert a handgun into a machine gun, officials say. Two of those weapons were linked to shootings in the Fort Worth area, police added.
Prosecutors played a video in court last month from Rendon's Instagram account that reportedly showed him firing a switch-equipped Glock out of a car on a highway, with cars passing by in the distance.
“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 machinegun conversion devices," said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II 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”
Rendon reportedly sold a switch-equipped Glock to an undercover ATF agent in August, police say. During the sale, police say Rendon explained to the agent how to operate the switch so the gun would fire fully automatic.
Rendon faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
