DUNCANVILLE, TX – A brazen daylight robbery at a Cash America pawn shop left authorities scrambling and a Plano man, Christian Alfredo Benitez-Ramirez, 28, facing serious federal charges. Benitez-Ramirez is accused of stealing 13 firearms – five shotguns, one pistol, and seven rifles – in a meticulously planned, yet shockingly audacious, heist on January 30th.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Benitez-Ramirez walked into the Duncanville store and immediately headed for the rear firearm display. Witnesses say he bypassed any pretense of legitimate shopping, going directly over the counter to reach the locked cabinet. When the sliding door proved secured, he didn’t hesitate, physically climbing over the counter itself.
The complaint details a scene of escalating desperation. Faced with a cable security system, Benitez-Ramirez produced a pocketknife, attempting to slice through the cords. When that failed, he simply ripped the entire cable and attachment system from the wall, grabbing as many firearms as he could carry. Witnesses report seeing him drag additional guns, still tethered to the severed cable, as he fled the store and loaded them into a Honda CR-V.
Adding to the audacity, Benitez-Ramirez reportedly told Cash America employees he “worked there” when questioned about being behind the counter. The ruse didn’t last. Alerted employees quickly activated store panic buttons, triggering a swift response from local law enforcement and, ultimately, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The Dallas Field Division took the lead on the investigation.
Benitez-Ramirez was arrested at his residence on Monday and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez. He is currently charged with theft from a federal firearms licensee. While a criminal complaint represents an allegation of wrongdoing, Benitez-Ramirez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Benitez-Ramirez faces a hefty sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs is prosecuting the case, promising a vigorous pursuit of justice in this brazen act of gun theft. The ATF continues to investigate any potential connections to further criminal activity.
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