MACON, GA – Two men are headed to federal prison for their roles in a brazen 2013 burglary of the Macon Bass Pro Shops, where they stole 17 firearms. The sentences, handed down this week by District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell, mark a step forward in a case that has lingered for years. Dante Thomas, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia, received five years in prison, to run consecutively to an existing state sentence. Tabari Walters, 24, of East Point, Georgia, was sentenced to 33 months. Both were ordered to pay $14,619.83 in restitution to Bass Pro Shops.
According to court documents, the pair, along with two co-defendants, conspired to steal firearms from the store. On September 29, 2013, the four drove from the Atlanta area, parking near the Bass Pro Shops off Interstate 75. They approached the store on foot and Thomas used a yellow crowbar to smash a window on an emergency exit, gaining entry. The group then targeted the firearms section, making off with the weapons before returning to Atlanta.
Federal agents quickly zeroed in on Thomas. A search of his residence turned up a yellow crowbar matching the one used in the burglary. Cell phone records further placed Thomas’ device in the vicinity of the Bass Pro Shops around the time of the crime. The investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III, didn’t mince words about the severity of the crime. “With the increase in violent crime and gun related violence that our communities are experiencing, including the recent murders of five law enforcement officers by gunfire in this area in recent months, the United States Attorney’s Office…will vigorously prosecute all defendants who illegally obtain or possess firearms,” Peterman stated. He emphasized the connection between stolen weapons and potential further violence.
The remaining co-defendants, Kenneth Atwater, 35, of McDonough, Georgia, and Jabari Walters, 24, of East Point, Georgia, are scheduled to be sentenced on April 12, 2017. They previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft from a federal firearms licensee. Unlike state systems, there is no parole in the federal system, meaning both Thomas and Walters will serve their full sentences.
Assistant United States Attorney Beth Howard is prosecuting the case for the government. Anyone with questions regarding this case is directed to contact Brittney Kish Lightsey at the United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 752-3511. This investigation serves as a stark reminder that federal authorities are actively pursuing those who illegally traffic firearms, and will hold them accountable for their actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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