Prairie State Wire

A federal grand jury has indicted Eddie Arguelles, 20, of Chicago, on a charge of illegally possessing a loaded machine gun in Riis Park, located in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. The indictment was returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

According to court documents, Arguelles allegedly possessed a Glock handgun fitted with a conversion device known as a “Glock switch” or “auto sear,” which enables the firearm to discharge multiple rounds with one trigger pull. The criminal complaint states that Chicago Police responded to reports of gunfire at the park on May 14, 2025. When officers arrived, Arguelles attempted to flee on a moped but crashed on a football field and was taken into custody. Officers then found the firearm in his possession. He is currently detained without bond.

Arguelles faces one count of possession of a machine gun, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison if convicted. His arraignment is scheduled for September 17, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez. The U.S. Attorney’s Office plans to seek continued pre-trial detention for Arguelles.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wesley Morrissette is representing the government.

The investigation is being carried out in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in Chicago. The CGIC serves as a centralized hub where federal, state, and local law enforcement collaborate to investigate and prevent gun violence throughout northern Illinois by quickly responding to violent crimes.

Authorities emphasized that an indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt and that Arguelles is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.