Stephen Gooden, Stolen Machine Guns, California 2023

Stolen Machine Guns Land California National Guardsman in Prison

In a shocking case of betrayal, Stephen Gooden, a 40-year-old resident of Stockton, California, was sentenced to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for possessing a machine gun.

According to court documents, Gooden and his accomplice, Luis Castro, 28, of Sacramento, stole two M-4 machine guns from the National Guard’s armory in Lodi. Gooden then sold the machine guns to non-authorized persons in Stockton.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command led the investigation, which was the result of an undercover operation.

“Today’s sentencing reflects the true partnership among federal law enforcement agencies,” stated Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU). “No criminal stands a chance against our MPFU agents working shoulder to shoulder with the ATF and other agencies. We hope that the sentence imposed today will deter others from engaging in similar illegal activity.”

Gooden’s accomplice, Luis Castro, was previously sentenced to 20 months in prison on August 22, 2013, for his involvement in the theft and sale of the machine guns.

Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Hemesath and Heiko Coppola prosecuted the case, which serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of corruption and the importance of cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

California State: The case highlights the need for vigilance and accountability within the military and law enforcement communities.

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