Three individuals have been charged with conspiracy and gun trafficking in Elmira, New York, following a brazen burglary at a local gun store. Douglas Church, Zachary Smith, and Brianna Lowe, all of Elmira, have been accused of stealing 49 handguns from Scott’s Guns on Watkins Drive in Horseheads, N.Y.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the burglary took place on October 16, 2013, at approximately 3:05 a.m., when the owner of Scott’s Guns received a telephone call from his security alarm company. The owner alerted police and then went to the store, where he discovered that 49 handguns had been stolen.
As part of their investigation, law enforcement officers reviewed footage from a security camera inside the store, which revealed two individuals inside the store during regular business hours the day before, October 15, 2013. Officers recognized the two individuals to be Zachary Smith and Douglas Church.
The complaint further states that additional investigation revealed that Church and Zachary Smith burglarized the store by having Church climb through a hole in the wall of the building, with Church handing the weapons to Smith. The two men left the guns in backpacks in a swamp behind the building the night of the burglary, with Smith and his girlfriend, Brianna Lowe, retrieving the guns the following day.
Investigation also revealed that many of the guns were sold within a week and a half of the burglary in exchange for money. The defendants are facing serious charges, including conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and possession of stolen firearms. Church and Smith are also charged with dealing firearms without a license.
The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Possession of stolen firearms and dealing firearms without a license carry a penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The defendants made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman. Church and Smith are being held pending a detention hearing on July 28. Lowe was released on conditions.
The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Cannon, New York Field Office, along with several local law enforcement agencies.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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