David Wise, Armed Robbery, Maryland 2016

Baltimore, MD – Five men from Baltimore have been indicted for their alleged roles in the armed robbery of a federally licensed firearms dealer in Dundalk, Maryland.

According to a federal indictment, David Wise, 22, and his co-defendants, Raymond McCullough, 33, Reginald Smith, 24, Tavon Hawkins, 34, and Lerron Sheppard, 23, conspired to rob the store from August 2016 through September 2016.

The indictment alleges that the defendants planned to use firearms and a stolen vehicle to commit the robbery, which they ultimately carried out on August 5, 2016. During the robbery, they stole 36 firearms, including three assault rifles and silencers, cash, a computer, monitor, credit cards, and a cellular phone.

The defendants then fled to an apartment in Baltimore, where they divided the cash and firearms among themselves. The indictment alleges that they possessed, concealed, stored, sold, and disposed of the stolen firearms until March 8, 2017.

Each of the defendants faces serious charges, including 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 a crime of violence. Wise, McCullough, and Smith also face charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, along with officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and 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.”

The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Metcalf is prosecuting the case.

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