ANCHORAGE, AK – A brazen 2019 gun store robbery culminated this week with Muna Junior Rhode, 24, receiving a nine-year federal prison sentence. Rhode, along with three co-conspirators, stormed Granny’s Guns in Anchorage, making off with 22 firearms – a haul that fueled a subsequent crime spree and a dangerous standoff with law enforcement.
According to court documents, the crew didn’t just walk into the store. They first stole a Chevy Trailblazer and used it to break into Wrightway Auto Carriers, pilfering license plates, filing cabinets, and a GMC Sierra pickup. This pickup became the getaway vehicle for the stolen firearms, with the group smashing through the front window of Granny’s Guns and loading the 22 weapons into the back. The GMC was later torched, a pathetic attempt to erase evidence before they sped away in a black SUV.
The chaos didn’t end with the theft. Anchorage Police Department officers attempted to pull over Rhode, driving the SUV, and his accomplices in another pickup, but the group responded by firing shots into the air and leading police on a high-speed chase across the city. Later, on June 20, 2019, Rhode and two others were caught on camera trying to breach a tow yard fence, desperate to recover a stolen gun that had been impounded.
“The blatant disregard for public safety and law enforcement, both during and after this series of violent crimes, by Rhode and his co-conspirators show they are a danger to our community and all Alaskans,” stated U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. The investigation, a joint effort between the Anchorage Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), finally led to indictments in October 2020 and subsequent arrests.
Rhode isn’t the only one facing consequences. Gian Carlo Pangilinan, aka “G,” 27, received a 10-year sentence for his role in the firearms theft. Kao Chiang Saelee, aka “Robbie,” 41, was sentenced to 5 years for conspiracy to steal firearms, and Hans Mikaele Wells, aka “Mika,” 26, also received a 9-year sentence for stealing firearms. Rhode also faces additional charges in state court, promising further legal battles.
Anchorage Police Chief Michael Kerle emphasized the danger posed by the group. “From the theft of multiple vehicles, to firing shots in public, driving erratically on our streets, and stealing multiple firearms; it is imperative they are held accountable for their behavior,” Kerle said. The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts.
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