(RepublicanView.org) – The Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office announced this month that federal authorities arrested six men who were suspected of carrying out a series of burglaries in the state. The men were believed to have engaged in a nine-month-long burglary spree that saw them steal more than 300 firearms and use stolen vehicles to force their way into retail stores in Southern California.
The six men are presently being held in custody and have been charged with conspiracy to steal firearms from federal licensees. The six men were all under the age of 23, with most being in their teens. From Las Vegas was Kenneth Gilmore III, aged 19, and from Murietta, Calvin Logan Gray, aged 18. The remainder of the men were from Lake Elsinore, and included 18-year-old Cross Arjay Goree, 22-year-old Caine Aiden Goree, 19-year-old Brendan Market Hawkins, and 23-year-old Kendall Eric Johnson.
The men are accused of conducting the burglaries between October 2023 and July 2024, targeting six firearms stores and making three additional attempts at other stores. During the most recent successful burglary at Fowler’s Gun Room located in Orange, California, the men allegedly stole 85 guns and rifles. Using a stolen vehicle, the men are believed to have forced their way through brick walls, bullet-proof glass, and security gates. The men were even allegedly capable of breaking through 900lb gun safes. The damage to Fowler’s Gun Room was significant. The first major burglary at the store since it opened in 1958, the owner described it as a “total loss,” with insurance not covering the entirety of the loss. After the incident, however, around 70 of the stolen guns were recovered and local members of the community came together to guard the store at night until repairs were completed.
On July 13, law enforcement agents searched a home believed to be occupied by Cross, Caine, and Johnson – and while announcing that they had arrived at the property, the officers said that they saw Gilmore and Cross escape from the back door of the building. It was during the search of the property that the guns were discovered.
The men will be arraigned in court in the coming weeks and could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Copyright 2024, RepublicanView.org
