Nehemiah Sample, Gun Store Burglary, Wisconsin 2024

ROCKLAND, WI – Nehemiah Sample, 27, of Trempealeau, Wisconsin, is headed to federal prison after a brazen gun store burglary and a multi-state flight from justice. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley sentenced Sample to two years behind bars yesterday for stealing 41 firearms from a Rockland, Wisconsin, gun store last April.

The April 25th heist saw Sample, along with two unnamed accomplices, break into the Rockland establishment and make off with a substantial arsenal. La Crosse County Sheriff’s deputies quickly caught wind of the robbery and initiated surveillance, spotting Sample driving a pickup truck later that same day. A traffic stop attempt quickly turned into a high-speed chase, ending with the truck abandoned in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Inside, officers recovered three of the stolen handguns from a bag on the backseat.

But Sample didn’t stop there. He fled to Lake Village, Arkansas, attempting to peddle the stolen firearms out of his vehicle. When local police moved to arrest him, Sample bolted again, diving into a scrap yard. A foot chase ensued, and officers eventually took him into custody, recovering a handgun on his person, another abandoned within the scrap yard, and an additional five stolen firearms from inside his vehicle. All weapons were confirmed to have originated from the Rockland gun store.

During sentencing, Judge Conley emphasized the severity of Sample’s actions, specifically his attempt to profit from the stolen weapons. “Sample’s decision to sell these stolen guns on the street, including to felons,” Conley stated, “was an aggravating factor that required a significant sentence.” The judge clearly signaled a zero-tolerance stance toward those who flood the streets with illegally obtained firearms.

Sample pleaded guilty to the charge on October 31, 2023. His co-defendant, Mackey K. Drake, has already admitted to possessing firearms as a felon and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3rd. The case against a third individual, Robert E. Benson, remains active, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Village, Arkansas, Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The prosecution, handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan, was brought under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts. PSN focuses specifically on combating gun crime and the illegal possession of firearms by convicted felons, a clear message sent with Sample’s sentencing.

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