CHILLICOTHE, MO – Marcus R. Brown, 27, of Chillicothe, Missouri, is headed to federal prison for nine years and four months after pleading guilty to possessing firearms he stole during a brazen burglary. U.S. District Judge Greg Kays handed down the sentence Monday, December 19th, bringing a measure of closure to a case that exposed a local gun dealer to risk and put illegal weapons on the street.
The crime unfolded on April 22, 2020, when Brown broke into Medicine Creek Trading Company, a Chillicothe firearms dealer, and made off with six guns. The stolen inventory included a Ruger 9mm pistol, a Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol, a Glock 9mm pistol, a Beretta 9mm pistol, a Ruger .45-caliber pistol, and a Block .40-caliber pistol – a significant haul for a small-town burglary. Brown wasn’t careful, though. Less than a month later, on April 29, 2020, he was arrested on an unrelated matter.
Investigators with the Chillicothe Police Department quickly connected Brown to the Medicine Creek Trading Company break-in. Evidence surfaced linking him directly to the stolen firearms, effectively sealing his fate. The feds swooped in, and Brown was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm – a charge carrying a hefty penalty, especially given his already lengthy rap sheet.
Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green prosecuted the case, successfully arguing that Brown’s actions posed a clear and present danger to the community. Brown’s criminal history – including prior convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, and burglary – didn’t help his case. He was, in fact, on probation at the time of the gun theft, adding insult to injury.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined the Chillicotte PD in the investigation, tracing the stolen weapons and building a solid case against Brown. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through focused law enforcement and community partnerships.
“This sentence sends a clear message: those who illegally possess firearms, especially after committing a burglary to obtain them, will face serious consequences,” a source close to the investigation told Grimy Times. Brown’s nine-year, four-month sentence includes no parole, meaning he will serve the full term for putting the public at risk and fueling the illegal gun trade. The investigation remains ongoing to determine if Brown had any accomplices or intended to sell the stolen firearms.
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