HUDSON FALLS, NY – A brazen gun store heist in upstate New York has unraveled a connection to a cocaine distribution network, authorities confirmed today. Martin Taft, 48, of Salem, New York, pleaded guilty to stealing 31 semi-automatic pistols from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes on October 21, 2022, and then using those weapons to procure narcotics.
According to federal prosecutors, Taft, alongside co-conspirator Jonathon Combs, smashed their way into the Hudson Falls gun store using a sledgehammer, making off with the significant cache of firearms. The stolen pistols weren’t destined for the black market as standalone sales, however. Taft and Combs allegedly traded the majority of the stolen weapons to an unnamed individual in exchange for cocaine, which they then intended to distribute. The full scope of the drug operation remains under investigation.
The bust is the result of a joint operation involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New York Field Division, the New York State Police, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman announced the guilty plea, highlighting the case as a prime example of the dangerous intersection between illegal firearms and drug trafficking. The Washington County District Attorney’s Office also provided assistance.
Taft now faces a lengthy prison sentence. He is looking at a minimum of five years and potentially life in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years of post-imprisonment supervised release. His sentencing is scheduled for February 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. The final sentence will be determined by Judge Nardacci based on sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.
This isn’t a closed book. Jonathon Combs, also 48, already pleaded guilty on April 27, 2023, to the same charges as Taft, plus an additional count of theft of a firearm. Combs faces identical penalties and is slated to be sentenced on November 28, 2023. Furthermore, Kwahpreme Mitchell, 32, remains charged in connection with the scheme and faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison if convicted. Mitchell is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. According to the DOJ, PSN focuses on targeting the most violent offenders and collaborating with local programs to address the root causes of crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Allen J. Vickey are prosecuting the case, determined to dismantle the criminal network and bring all involved to justice. “
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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