A’Jon Hall, a 20-year-old resident of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun. The sentencing follows an incident that occurred on June 22, 2025, during Game Seven of the NBA Finals when large crowds had gathered in downtown Indianapolis.
According to court documents, at approximately 10:52 p.m., officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) responded to a report from a member of the public who saw an armed individual dressed in black displaying multiple firearms near a major hotel on Georgia Street. As officers approached, they observed people fleeing in panic. They located Hall, who was wearing a black sweatshirt and face mask and carrying a backpack. When police attempted to detain him, Hall ignored commands and fled into a parking garage stairwell.
During the pursuit, officers heard what sounded like Hall discarding his backpack. He tried to hide between floors but eventually surrendered after repeated verbal commands. Two days later, with assistance from the Indianapolis Fire Department, IMPD officers found the discarded backpack next to which was recovered a Glock 23 .40-caliber handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device known as a “Glock switch” and a 50-round drum magazine.
These devices convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons and are considered machine guns under federal law even if not installed. Possession or sale by individuals is illegal.
“Machine gun conversion devices are among the most dangerous illegal weapons circulating in our communities. A single switch can turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon capable of firing dozens of rounds in seconds, putting innocent people at extraordinary risk,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “As Indianapolis continues to host major events that draw large crowds from across the country, our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure this city remains a safe place to live, work, and gather.”
“We are grateful to the responding IMPD officers for their bravery in confronting an extremely dangerous individual armed with an illegal machine gun in a highly volatile situation,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. “While we may never know Hall’s true intent that evening, this successful prosecution ensures he will be unable to commit further acts of violence while incarcerated.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman imposed the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler expressed appreciation for Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nate Walter’s role prosecuting this case as part of an ongoing partnership with the City of Indianapolis aimed at identifying and federally prosecuting violent crimes occurring in Marion County.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice focused on combating illegal immigration networks as well as cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
