LEXINGTON, Ky. — A string of vehicle break-ins across Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee in 2017 has led to the collapse of a black-market gun ring. Jeremy D. Stidham, 25, Dario Adrian Mauriz-Cruz, 27, Wayne Russell Fugate, 49, and Larry Joe Burton, 59, have all pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to the theft and sale of more than 50 firearms, including weapons stolen from law enforcement.
Stidham and Mauriz-Cruz admitted to burglarizing vehicles and stealing guns, credit cards, and other valuables over a two-month crime spree. They then moved the stolen firearms across state lines, selling them to known felons. Mauriz-Cruz, already a convicted felon, also admitted to illegally possessing firearms during the scheme. Both pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting possession of stolen firearms.
Fugate, a convicted felon, bought stolen guns in bulk and hoarded them at his residence. When federal agents executed a search warrant, they seized 22 stolen firearms and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Investigators later recovered six more guns purchased through the ring. Fugate pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of more than 25 stolen firearms.
Burton, also a convicted felon, admitted to possessing two stolen firearms, including a M-16 semi-automatic rifle taken during a law enforcement vehicle break-in. The weapon, capable of rapid fire and highly illegal in civilian hands, was recovered after a search of his home and follow-up investigation. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen firearms.
The case was cracked by a multi-jurisdictional task force that traced the flow of guns from crime scenes to buyers. Authorities from the ATF, Kentucky State Police, Lexington Police, and multiple county sheriffs collaborated on the investigation. Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, announced the pleas alongside top law enforcement leaders from across the region.
Stidham, Mauriz-Cruz, and Burton are scheduled for sentencing on August 26, 2019. Fugate will be sentenced on September 3, 2019. Each faces up to ten years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. The final sentences will be determined by the court, weighing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and federal statutes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger W. West prosecuted the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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