Centralia Man Pleads Guilty in Stolen Gun Conspiracy

Michael Rink, 34, of Centralia, Illinois, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to possess and sell stolen firearms, capping a years-long investigation into one of the region’s boldest gun heists. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois.

The crime began with a smash-and-grab at Buchheit’s of Centralia on November 29, 2014, when thieves walked out with 40 firearms and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Dakota Moss, also of Centralia, was later sentenced to 248 months in prison for carrying out the burglary. A juvenile accomplice was prosecuted separately in state court, setting off a chain of illicit movement and resale.

Court records show Rink didn’t pull the trigger, but he kept the operation rolling. He admitted to driving co-defendants around to stash and shift the stolen arsenal between locations. He accepted cash for transporting the guns and specifically ferried co-defendant Justin Gibson to facilitate sales. His vehicle became a rolling black market for illegal firepower.

Two of the stolen guns made their way through the juvenile to Terrell Cleggett, who then sold them to his friend and co-defendant, Brandon Hoskins. Hoskins was sentenced to 60 months in prison on December 13, 2016. Cleggett remains awaiting sentencing, set for February 21, 2017. Justin Gibson has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on April 20, 2017.

Thirty-eight of the original 40 firearms stolen in the Buchheit heist have since been recovered by law enforcement. The two guns tied directly to Rink’s case were among those traced and recovered. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with support from the Centralia Police Department and the Clinton County States Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. Rink’s sentencing date has not yet been announced. Federal authorities stress that even non-triggermen who enable arms trafficking face serious consequences under U.S. law.

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