Bear in mind the man who went viral earlier this 12 months when video confirmed Chicago cops tackling him moments after he allegedly livestreamed himself with a gun after which fired the weapon inside a Northwest Aspect park?
Nicely, his week goes very, very badly: the ATF is taking his case to federal courtroom.
Federal prosecutors have filed a prison criticism in opposition to 20-year-old Eddie Arguelles of Wicker Park, accusing him of possessing a machine gun. The cost stems from his Might 14 arrest at Riis Park, the place police mentioned they caught him with a Glock 23 pistol outfitted with a conversion change, prolonged journal, and laser attachment.
Investigators say Arguelles basically livestreamed his personal federal gun crime on Instagram, utilizing the deal with @emurdaswitchemdown. The account, tied to his identify and picture, featured photographs and movies of him posing with firearms, based on the feds. The account has since been taken down.
The arrest unfolded after 911 callers reported a masked man wearing black firing photographs on the park’s soccer area. Officers chased Arguelles on a stolen scooter till he crashed, then fought to maintain him from reaching for the bulge in his pants: a Glock loaded with 23 rounds and outfitted to fireside routinely. Witnesses pointed police to a spent casing close by, allegedly proof that he fired the weapon.
Earlier that night, Arguelles went dwell on Instagram as he rode a scooter round Riis Park, 6100 West Fullerton.
“This 20 acquired a change on it,” he boasted, telling viewers that the Glock 20 he displayed was outfitted with an unlawful aftermarket change that enables it to fireside like a machine gun.
Moments later, the video lower to a distinct scene: Chicago cops piling onto the loud-mouthed gunman on the park’s soccer area. His scooter lay on its aspect.
“You! Silly a** n****r!” a bystander yelled as a crowd of spectators filmed the takedown.
Right here’s the video, in case you need to see it for your self:
One other video from Arguelles’ Instagram account, cited within the federal criticism, allegedly reveals him tinkering with a pistol slide and explaining, “This little piece proper here’s what’s blocking the change. Like they knew a m**********r was attempting to place that b**** in right here. That m**********r is meant [to] slide all the way in which in.”
ATF brokers say the video reveals him putting in an unlawful change that converts a pistol to totally computerized hearth.
These particulars matter.
Regulation enforcement sources say the most important hurdle in prosecuting machine gun circumstances is proving the defendant knew the weapon was a machine gun. With out proof of data, convictions are unlikely.
Prosecutors argue that Arguelles’ social media posts reveal he knew precisely what a change is and the way it works, making it simpler to show that he knowingly possessed a machine gun when police allegedly pulled the Glock from his pant leg at Riis Park.
Prepare dinner County prosecutors already charged Arguelles with illegal use of a machine gun, reckless discharge, and possession of a stolen motorcar. Some, presumably all, of these counts will probably be dropped now that the feds have taken over.
If convicted of the federal cost, Arguelles faces as much as 10 years in jail and a fantastic of as much as $250,000.
