A 25-year-old baggage handler at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) has been charged with stealing numerous handguns and trading them for marijuana.
A federal criminal complaint was filed against Ja’Quan Johnson of Austin, alleging that he stole handguns from inside passenger bags at ABIA between November 29, 2016, and February 2, 2017.
According to the complaint, Johnson traded some of the stolen firearms for marijuana. So far, Austin Police have recovered seven firearms allegedly stolen by Johnson.
Johnson faces up to ten years in federal prison for theft from an interstate shipment and up to ten years in federal prison for possession of each stolen firearm. Upon conviction, he will be sentenced accordingly.
Johnson was released on a personal recognizance bond following his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew W. Austin. No further court dates have been scheduled.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Transportation Security Administration, and the Austin Police Department’s Aviation Division.
A criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ja’Quan Johnson, a 25-year-old baggage handler at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, is facing serious charges for his alleged involvement in stealing handguns and trading them for marijuana.
Related Federal Cases
- Dietrick Lewis Johnson, Carjacking and Witness Tampering, Texas 2011 · Illinois
- Devonte Okeith Mathis, Marijuana Trafficking and Aiding Gun Use, Texas 2021 · Illinois
- Roberto Minuta, Seditious Conspiracy and Obstruction of Official Proceeding, Texas 2021 · Florida
- Devonte Okeith Mathis, Marijuana Conspiracy, Texas 2021 · Florida
- Dustin Ray Williams, Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder, Texas 2021 · District of Columbia
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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