PORTLAND, ME – Tomas Johnson, 40, of Biddeford, Maine, will spend the next twelve years in federal prison after a brazen theft of 22 firearms from J.T. Reid’s Gun Shop in Auburn. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. handed down the sentence today, following Johnson’s guilty plea on April 27th. The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Auburn Police Department, and Lewiston Police Department, reveals a calculated crime coupled with ongoing drug activity.
The trouble began on October 20, 2021, when Johnson spent over an hour casing J.T. Reid’s. He wasn’t browsing for a hunting rifle. Witnesses say Johnson repeatedly asked about firearms, even handling a semi-automatic assault rifle equipped with a large-capacity magazine. Crucially, Johnson was already a prohibited person – a convicted felon with no legal right to possess firearms. This didn’t deter him.
Just four days later, on October 24th, Johnson smashed his way into J.T. Reid’s, shattering the front door with a rock. Disguised with a hood, mask, and gloves, he entered the shop with a backpack and systematically stole 22 firearms from the inventory. He then fled the scene, leaving behind broken glass and a gaping hole in the store’s security. The stolen weapons immediately raised alarms, prompting a multi-agency manhunt.
The investigation quickly turned to Johnson. On October 28th, an undercover officer arranged to purchase cocaine base from a phone number linked to Johnson. When investigators approached him at the agreed-upon meeting spot, Johnson took off running. During the chase, he tossed a loaded firearm – one of those stolen from J.T. Reid’s – in an attempt to ditch the evidence. He was apprehended shortly after, found in possession of a quantity of cocaine base, adding a drug trafficking charge to his mounting legal woes.
Johnson was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He faced charges of theft from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL), possession of a stolen firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, led by Darcie N. McElwee, prosecuted the case. The ATF, Auburn PD, and Lewiston PD have removed a dangerous combination of guns and drugs from the streets of Maine.
This case underscores the ATF’s commitment to tracing and recovering stolen firearms, and the ongoing battle against illegal gun trafficking. The combination of firearm theft and drug distribution highlights a dangerous nexus of criminal activity that federal agencies are working tirelessly to dismantle. The investigation remains ongoing to determine if Johnson acted alone or as part of a larger criminal enterprise.
Related Federal Cases
- Scott Lynch Jr, Illegal Gun Possession, Maine 2023 · Maine
- John T Hines, Firearms Possession, Maine · Maine
- John Martin, Firearm Possession after Domestic Violence, Maine 2024 · Maine
- Jermaine Franklin, Gun Possession, MS 2024 · Maine
- Matthew Johnson, Loaded Firearm and Heroin Possession, Pennsylvania… · Pennsylvania
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
