HOUSTON – A pair of Houston men, Anthony D. Cannon, 21, and Tony L. Watkins, 24, have been sentenced to federal prison for their role in the March 2016 heist from Carter’s Country gun store. Both pleaded guilty to being felons in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner today ordered Cannon to serve 46 months behind bars, while Watkins was handed a 57-month sentence. They will also both be required to serve three years of supervised release after their prison terms.
The Carter’s Country heist unfolded at 4:30 a.m. on March 1, 2016, when law enforcement responded to an alarm. The store’s front doors were found busted open and ransacked, with 84 firearms stolen, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
Surveillance video revealed an individual who used a chain to pull the doors off. Approximately 11 suspects ran inside and broke glass cabinets before making their getaway. Cannon and Watkins were arrested later on after law enforcement discovered they had some of the stolen firearms in their possession.
As convicted felons, both men are prohibited from owning firearms under federal law. They remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation into the Carter’s Country robbery is ongoing, with no one yet charged for the crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie N. Searle, and a joint federal task force, including the ATF and FBI, conducted the probe.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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