How did he get that gun?

VERMILION — It's a killing machine, a weapon that can shoot up to 600 rounds in one minute. Police found it at the home of a local man who is a self-proclaimed member of an anti-government group. How James Thompson, 39, of Vermilion, came to be in possession of the weapon is unknown, and it will be up to federal agents to figure it out, according to Vermilion police Chief Chris Hartung. Thompson is a convicted felon and as such is prohibited from owning or possessing weapons. Police found the illegally modified AK-47 in his home after executing a search warrant there on May 11. A few days earlier, Thompson sped away from a traffic stop and an arrest on warrants in the city after telling an officer he was a "sovereign soul," a statement relating to an anti-government group. How he came to be in possession of the weapon, who sold it to him or provided him with it, remain unanswered questions, Hartung said. The police department sent the weapon to federal agents. "The FBI and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) will investigate those issues," Hartung said. Arrested and jailed James Earl Thompson A state violent fugitive task force found and arrested Thompson without incident in Brownhelm Township on May 19. He's being held in the Erie County Jail on these charges: • Having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony • Unlawful possession of a dangerous ordinance, a fifth-degree felony • Illegal manufacture or possession of explosives, a fifth-degree felony • Failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony • Reckless operation of a vehicle, a first-degree misdemeanor • Fictitious license plates, a minor misdemeanor • Driving under suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor The FBI put a hold on Thompson with the Erie County Jail ahead of possible federal charges. An FBI spokesperson did specify what Thompson is being investigated for, but said it did not have anything to do with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol — which was the subject of online speculation. It's possible that the potential charges relate to the recovered AK-47. Profile of the weapon The AK-47, also known as the "Kalashnikov" for its Russian-born inventor, is widely regarded as one of the most popular weapons worldwide with a number of different variations in circulation, according to military.com. According to Hartung, the model of the AK-47 allegedly found in Thompson's home is a "Draco," which is made by Romanian Arms, a Romanian state-owned defense company. These provided photos show a mini Draco, a similar albeit smaller version of the weapon allegedly found in Thompson's home. Provided/TNS The Draco is listed on gun vendor websites as a semi-automatic pistol variant of the AK-47. It has a weight of about five to six pounds and its magazine holds 30 rounds of ammunition. Several vendors listed the weapon for sale between $400-$1,200. A semi-automatic weapon works by firing one bullet and then automatically loading the next bullet to fire, requiring the gun's user to pull the trigger multiple times to fire multiple shots, according to PolitiFact. Fully automatic weapons can be fired continuously by pressing down the trigger. When the Draco is modified to fully automatic firing, the weapon can shoot off 600 rounds in one minute, Hartung said. The chief said the weapon's modification is illegal. The Draco allegedly recovered from Thompson's residence was modified by altering a part of the weapon called the lower receiver, which is above where the magazine enters the firearm, Hartung said. It also had a "fixed buttstock" — the part of a weapon that rests on the shoulder for firing — which the ATF prohibits for weapons classified as pistols, like the Draco. The legality Ohio law regulates "dangerous ordinances" including automatic weapons, but they can be legally owned under certain circumstances, including if the weapon is registered with ATF, according to information from the ATF and the National Rifle Association. But in Thompson's case, the issue is moot due to his status as a convicted felon — court records state he was convicted of breaking and entering and cocaine possession in Erie County in 2013. Under the state's "weapons under disability" law, convicted felons can't possess any firearms. The penalty for possessing weapons under disability is a third-degree felony in Ohio. According to a Vermilion Municipal Court docket, Thompson had an arraignment and preliminary hearing on his charges, though felony cases are typically "bound over" to the county common pleas court once a suspect is indicted. The docket does not say if Thompson entered a plea. He remains in the Erie County Jail without bond as of Friday afternoon.