Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted five men on charges of conspiracy to possess, conceal and sell stolen firearms; conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery; and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to crime of violence, in connection with the armed robbery of a federally licensed firearms dealer. The indictment was returned on March 8, 2016.
The indictment charges the following defendants, who are all from Baltimore:
David Wise, a/k/a Rambo and Rampage, age 22;
Raymond McCullough, a/k/a Troop, age 33;
Reginald Smith, a/k/a Young Loc and Loc, age 24;
Tavon Hawkins, a/k/a G and Tay, age 34; and
Lerron Sheppard, a/k/a D-Loc, age 23.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.
“Keeping illegal firearms from hitting the streets of Baltimore is ATF’s number one priority,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board. The men and women of the ATF Baltimore Field Division will relentlessly pursue any criminals who attempt to acquire or distribute stolen weapons and we will utilize all of our resources to ensure that they are held accountable for their violent and dangerous actions.”
According to the seven-count indictment, from August 2016 through September 2016, the defendants conspired to rob a bait, tackle and gun store in Dundalk, Maryland, that was a federally licensed firearms dealer. As part of the conspiracy, the defendants planned to use firearms and a stolen vehicle to commit the robbery. The indictment alleges that on August 5, 2016, the defendants, brandishing firearms, robbed the store, stealing 36 firearms, including three assault rifles and silencers, cash, a computer and monitor, credit cards and a cellular phone. The defendants fled in the vehicle they had stolen to use during the robbery to an apartment in Baltimore, where they divided the cash and firearms among themselves. The indictment alleges that from time of the robbery until March 8, 2017, the defendants possessed, concealed, stored, sold and otherwise disposed of the stolen firearms.
Each of the defendants faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the firearms conspiracy; 20 years in prison for the commercial robbery conspiracy; 20 years in prison for the commercial robbery; and a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in prison for using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Wise, McCullough and Smith also face 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, FBI and Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney David Metcalf, who is prosecuting the case.