Robert Lee Reynolds, Possessing Stolen Firearm, Michigan 2023

Robert Lee Reynolds, 28, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Ironwood, Michigan, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possessing a stolen firearm. The firearm was stolen from a victim in Ironwood, Michigan.

According to U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, stopping gun violence before tragedy strikes is critical to preventing senseless violent crimes. Totten commended the law enforcement partners for their coordinated efforts to keep communities safe and guns out of the hands of individuals who possess them illegally.

In May 2023, the Ironwood Public Safety Department learned that Reynolds stole a pistol from an individual in Ironwood and then threatened to kill that individual. Reynolds later appeared on social media where he recorded himself brandishing a pistol and threatening more people.

Investigators eventually found Reynolds and the stolen gun in a vehicle Reynolds was driving in Menominee, Michigan. Reynolds fled from police before turning himself in after a standoff.

Robert Reynolds stole a firearm and used it to threaten and intimidate several people in our community, including the firearm owner, said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. Armed threats can quickly escalate into gun violence. Mr. Reynolds’ arrest quite possibly saved lives.

The Ironwood Public Safety Department, Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office, Menominee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Lochner and Jacob Metoxen prosecuted the case.

Gun theft is wrong, and the message should be clear: if you choose to engage in gun violence, you should pack your bags for prison, said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. Reynolds will have a lot of time in prison to reflect on his poor decisions.

Reynolds’ sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in gun violence and threatening others. The case highlights the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to keep communities safe and prevent gun violence.

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