Preston G. Holmes III, Burglarizing Firearms Dealers, Virginia 2017

Burglarizing Firearms Dealers in Chantilly, Virginia

A federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, has convicted two local men of conspiracy and theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Preston G. Holmes III, 23, and Matthew D. Jones, 23, participated in the burglary of a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Chantilly, where they stole 35 handguns.

The attempted thefts of firearms from FFLs in Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg were also linked to Holmes and Jones. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced the verdict after U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee accepted the jury's decision.

Preston G. Holmes III and Matthew D. Jones each face up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on September 12, 2017. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation into the burglaries involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) Washington Field Division, Fairfax County Police, Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, and Fredericksburg Police Department. U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente praised the collaborative effort that led to the convictions.

Preston G. Holmes III and Matthew D. Jones will be sentenced on September 12, 2017. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Rich and Alexander Blanchard. Related court documents and information are available on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia's website or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-67.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/two-men-convicted-burglarizing-firearms-dealers