A Broken Arrow resident, Derrick Carl Andrew Chatman, 24, has been charged with multiple firearm-related offenses after allegedly selling a machinegun conversion device known as a “switch” to a minor while under state supervision for previous firearm and drug convictions.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was notified by Tulsa Police in July about a recovered firearm fitted with a switch. The weapon and ammunition were found by a parent in their child’s bedroom. With parental consent, the juvenile told law enforcement that he bought the gun at a gun show held at the fairgrounds and met an individual there who offered to sell him the switch.
The complaint alleges that Chatman sold this device to the juvenile. Surveillance footage from the event reportedly shows Chatman purchasing another firearm. A subsequent search of his residence led officers to find a gun, ammunition, and a package shipped from China containing additional switches.
Court documents indicate that in July 2024, Chatman faced charges including unlawful possession of drugs with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. He pleaded guilty in December 2024 and remains under state supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting this case, which is being investigated by both ATF and Tulsa Police Department.
“A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” states the release.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department of Justice enhanced its PSN strategy on May 26, 2021 by emphasizing community trust-building, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement efforts, and tracking outcomes. More details on Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
