ORLANDO, FL – In a stunning turn of events, Chad Earl Cotsamire, 44, of Titusville, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. This revelation comes from United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, who announced the plea today.
Cotsamire, an employee of a firearms and firearms parts manufacturer, was caught red-handed by law enforcement. The 44-year-old faces up to five years in federal prison for his crime. As part of his guilty plea, Cotsamire has agreed to forfeit $190,314.83—the ill-gotten gains from the conspiracy.
The details of the plea agreement reveal that between September 2019 and June 2022, Cotsamire was under the direction of co-conspirators and systematically stole firearms parts from his employer. He then transported these stolen goods across state lines to unsuspecting buyers, pocketing $190,314.83 in the process.
This investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), led by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program dedicated to reducing violent crime and gun violence across America. PSN aims to foster trust in communities, support local organizations, set focused enforcement priorities, and measure results effectively.
Project Safe Neighborhoods’ strategic approach includes fostering community trust, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting focused law enforcement strategies, and measuring outcomes. The Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, to strengthen PSN based on these core principles.
RELATED: Titusville Thief Stole Firearm Parts in $190,314.83 Scheme
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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