Topsham Gun Thief Gets 75 Months

PORTLAND, Maine – Another thug off the streets. Christopher Tucker, 34, of Topsham, Maine, is headed to federal prison for 75 months after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing stolen firearms. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen delivered the sentence today, followed by an additional three years of supervised release. The case highlights the continued flow of illegal weapons and the consequences for repeat offenders.

The trouble started back in May 2024 when Brunswick Police responded to a call about suspicious activity. A homeowner’s garage door was found ajar, cabinets visibly pried open, and ammunition littered the floor. It wasn’t a friendly visit. Officers quickly located a vehicle matching the description given by the concerned citizen, and the driver, identified as Tucker, decided to make a run for it. A brief foot chase ended with Tucker in custody.

What they found in that vehicle wasn’t just a ride – it was an arsenal. Twenty firearms, all confirmed stolen from the burgled Brunswick residence, were recovered. Twenty. For a man already legally barred from owning any firearms due to a history of felony convictions, that’s a serious escalation. This wasn’t a first offense; this was a pattern of disregard for the law.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) took the lead on the investigation, with crucial support from the Brunswick Police Department and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. The swift response and collaborative effort ensured a dangerous individual was apprehended and brought to justice. The ATF’s resources were critical in tracing the stolen weapons and building a solid case against Tucker.

This case is being touted as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement at all levels with the communities they serve. The Department launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on building trust, supporting community organizations, prioritizing enforcement, and measuring results. Whether these programs actually make a dent in the long run remains to be seen, but the feds are keen to point to cases like Tucker’s as proof of concept.

For those interested in learning more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice provides information at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn. Meanwhile, Christopher Tucker will have plenty of time to reflect on his choices from behind bars. Another win for the public, another criminal removed from the streets – at least for a while.