Windham Couple Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Sale

Former Windham residents Theodore “Ted” Thomes, 56, and his wife, Renee Thomes, 52, have been hit with significant sentences for their illegal involvement in firearms. United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced the sentencing of the couple in U.S. District Court by Judge D. Brock Hornby.

Ted Thomes was handed a 27-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release after being convicted as a felon in possession of firearms. His wife, Renee, received a 30-day prison term followed by three years of supervised release for the illegal transfer of those firearms to an out-of-state resident.

Their criminal saga began in 2011 when they stole several handguns from their neighbor, who was being cared for by the couple. Ted Thomes, already a convicted felon, stashed the weapons at another neighbor’s home. In 2012, Renee Thomes retrieved the guns and sold them through an auctioneer in New Hampshire, pocketing around $11,000.

Judge Hornby emphasized the need for law-abiding behavior during sentencing, noting Ted’s previous conviction for firearms possession in 2009. Renee’s sentence was influenced by false statements she made in a letter to the court prior to her sentencing.

The investigation leading to their convictions was a collaborative effort between the Windham Police Department, the Maine Attorney General’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

For more on this gritty crime story, stay tuned to Grimy Times for all the hard-hitting details.