Dallas City Wire

A Dallas gang member, Johnny Bates, has been detained pending trial after being arrested with a Glock pistol equipped with a gold switch. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton announced the arrest.

Bates, 19, faces charges of possession of a machinegun following his arrest on November 7. A hearing last Friday led to his detention until trial.

Court documents reveal that in December 2023, Bates was allegedly seen on video firing what appeared to be a fully automatic pistol. Although police could not apprehend him at the time, they recovered a switch-equipped Glock along his escape route.

In October 2024, detectives from the Dallas Police Department located Bates in an apartment in Oak Cliff, Dallas. As officers attempted to arrest him for outstanding warrants related to the December incident, he resisted but was subdued when backup arrived. Officers found a 9mm Glock with a gold switch and extended magazine in his backpack.

The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) linked this Glock to an aggravated assault case from September 12 in Dallas. However, officers do not suspect Bates's involvement as another suspect has been identified.

During the detention hearing, officers presented evidence of Bates's alleged history with machinegun conversion devices through images from his Instagram showing firearms with attached switches.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint is only an allegation and not proof of guilt. Bates remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, he could face up to ten years in federal prison.

The investigation was conducted by the Dallas Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Withers is handling prosecution duties.

This case forms part of "Operation Texas Kill Switch," aimed at tackling machinegun conversion devices or "switches." The initiative involves partnerships between state and local law enforcement and offers rewards through Crime Stoppers. It is led by U.S. Attorneys Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, Damien Diggs, and Jaime Esparza.