ALBUQUERQUE — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Los Lunas man has been charged in federal court after an undercover investigation allegedly revealed a sustained operation to manufacture, convert, and sell machineguns and a significant quantity of machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches.”
According to court documents, in August and September 2025, an undercover ATF agent identified Robert Gurule, 23, advertising firearms and suspected machineguns for sale on Facebook, including videos of him handling and firing a fully automatic weapon.
The investigation led to multiple controlled purchases during which Gurule allegedly sold firearms equipped with machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches,” and claimed he regularly converted semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.
On October 2, 2025, Gurule allegedly sold the undercover agent a rifle with a conversion device and a high-capacity drum magazine for $1,600, demonstrating how the weapon functioned as a machinegun and offering to supply additional firearms. He later agreed to sell multiple machineguns, completing a second transaction on December 5, 2025, in which he allegedly sold three machineguns and an additional firearm for a total of $4,600. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the firearms and conversion devices met the federal definition of machineguns.
In April 2026, Gurule allegedly arranged to sell approximately 80 machinegun conversion devices and additional firearms to the undercover agent. On April 24, 2026, Gurule and codefendant Izatah Hausner, 21, met with the agent and displayed the devices and negotiated a sale valued at $11,500. Both men were arrested at the scene after the agent took possession of the conversion devices. During the transaction, Hausner also allegedly offered to sell a firearm and stated he was involved in fentanyl distribution.
“The illegal sale of these conversion devices is a deliberate escalation of violence that puts our community and our officers at extreme risk,’ said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Since day one, I have worked with a sense of urgency to address our crime problem by getting back to the basics of federal prosecution. My priority remains keeping New Mexicans safe by relentlessly prosecuting those who flood our streets with these illegal weapons.”
"The trafficking of machinegun conversion devices has evolved from a domestic policing issue into a transnational threat,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge A. J. Gibes. These clandestine operations allow criminals to bypass background checks, placing low-cost, high-impact tools in the hands of cartels and violent offenders. Through historic cooperation, the ATF and our partners are targeting these social media-driven networks to close the lethality gap that threatens law enforcement and civilian safety on both sides of the border."
“This investigation is a clear example of what can be achieved through coordinated law enforcement efforts," said New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. "By working alongside our federal and local partners, we are sending a strong message: the illegal trafficking of machineguns and conversion devices will not be tolerated in New Mexico. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners to keep our communities safe.”
Gurule is charged with unlawful possession and transfer of a machinegun and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has been scheduled for April 29, 2026. If convicted of the current charge, Gurule faces up to 10 years in prison.
Hausner is charged with aiding and abetting and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has been scheduled for April 29, 2026. If convicted of the current charge, Hausner faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Albert Gibes, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
This case was investigated by the New Mexico ATF Firearms Trafficking Task Force in collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Justice. Additional assistance was provided by the Albuquerque Police Department, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bernalillo Police Department. The New Mexico ATF Firearms Trafficking Task Force works to identify, deter, disrupt, and dismantle Firearms Trafficking Organizations (FTOs) supplying firearms to individuals and groups engaged in our community’s most egregious acts of violence, as well as any associated, violent offenders.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are illegal devices that transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of continuous firing with a single trigger pull. The possession, manufacture, and sale of these devices without proper licensing is a federal offense carrying severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
The proliferation of these devices poses an immediate and critical threat to public safety. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of machine gun conversion devices, indicating an alarming trend in their availability and use. Violent street gangs are increasingly employing these devices, devastating communities and neighborhoods with unprecedented firepower.
This dramatic increase in illegal automatic weapons puts both civilians and law enforcement at extreme risk. Officers responding to incidents may find themselves severely outgunned, facing weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. The potential for mass casualties in such encounters is staggering.
Law enforcement agencies are racing against time to intercept these devices before they can be used in violent crimes. Public cooperation is crucial in combating this threat. If you have information about illegal firearms or conversion devices, please contact the ATF immediately:
Call: 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477)
Email: ATFTips@atf.gov
Visit: www.atf.gov/atf-tips
Your tip could save lives and prevent these dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The time to act is now, before our community falls victim to the devastating impact of these illegal automatic weapons.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
