Pittsburgh resident Marquis Trammel, 20, broke into a West Mifflin sports store and stole five rifles along with an unknown quantity of handgun ammunition, federal prosecutors confirm. The heist occurred on December 20, 2016, when Trammel and a juvenile smashed open a display case at Dunham’s Discount Sports, grabbing rifles and rifling through a drawer below for additional firepower.
Trammel, also known as Marquis Botelho-Trammel and Marquis Motelho-Trammel, pleaded guilty to two federal counts: possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and theft of firearms from a licensed dealer. The charges stem from a 2015 conviction in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas for Robbery, Terroristic Threats, and Theft by Unlawful Taking—crimes punishable by more than one year in prison, legally barring him from owning guns or ammo under federal law.
Chief U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for May 31, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. Trammel now faces a maximum of 10 years behind bars, a fine up to $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the final sentence will weigh the severity of the crime and Trammel’s prior criminal record.
Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. Johnston is leading the prosecution, pushing for accountability in a case that underscores the dangers of illegal gun access. The theft at a licensed firearms retailer exposed gaps in security and raised alarm over how easily weapons can fall into the hands of prohibited individuals.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and West Mifflin Police Department led the investigation that brought Trammel to justice. The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Justice Department’s nationwide initiative aimed at slashing violent crime through coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement action.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who made violent crime reduction a top priority, reinvigorated PSN in October 2017. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady emphasized that cases like Trammel’s reflect a broader crackdown on gun crimes, stressing that felons caught with weapons will face the full weight of federal prosecution.
RELATED: Pittsburgh Teen Marquis Trammel Cops Gun Heist Charge
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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