A Louisville man has been sentenced to seven years and two months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and a machine gun illegally. The sentencing of Aaron Kidwell, 34, follows his conviction for possession of a Glock Model 17 pistol with a Glock Switch device, which converts the weapon into a machine gun under federal law.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department. “I commend the work of ATF and LMPD in this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “The combined partnership of federal and state law enforcement in the Louisville Metro area continues to pay dividends as we continue to remove the most violent individuals from the streets and send them to federal prison.”
Court documents reveal that on February 19, 2024, Kidwell led detectives on a chase while driving a large Kubota tractor through residential areas armed with the loaded pistol equipped with a Glock Switch device. His prior felony convictions prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Kidwell's previous convictions include criminal trespass in December 2009, dealing in marijuana in February 2014, strangulation in February 2018, and identity deception in September 2018—all within Indiana's Floyd County and Clark County courts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted this case which was investigated by the ATF with help from the Louisville Metro Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime through community trust-building, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement. It is also part of the Prohibited Firearm Possessor Initiative (PFP), focusing on reducing violent crime through collaboration between various law enforcement agencies including local police departments and offices at both state and federal levels.