Madison County Man Sentenced for Firearms Thefts and Illegal Possesion of a Firearm

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Richmond, Ky., man, Christopher David Taylor, 39, was sentenced to 94 months on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, following his convictions for two counts of theft from a federally licensed firearms dealer and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to his plea agreement, on January 4, 2023, law enforcement responded to a burglary at Dan's Discount Jewelry and Pawn, a federally licensed firearms dealer. Taylor and an accompanying juvenile unlawfully entered the store and stole 60 firearms from the business. As law enforcement arrived, Taylor and the juvenile escaped through the back of the business, dropping a duffel bag containing 57 of the 60 firearms. An additional firearm that was stolen was recovered from the field behind the business.

Later, on February 8, 2023, law enforcement responded to another burglary, this time in Clark County, at Bypass Gold and Pawn LLC, another federally licensed firearms dealer. Taylor was observed on surveillance unlawfully entering the building and stealing a total of nine firearms from the business.

Then, on February 10, 2023, after identifying Taylor on surveillance, law enforcement searched Taylor's residence, finding him hiding in the attic. Law enforcement also found five firearms, three of which had been stolen by Taylor, from Bypass Gold and Pawn. Taylor later admitted to committing both burglaries.

As part of his plea, Taylor admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior state felony convictions, which include multiple burglaries in Anderson Circuit Court, a bail jumping in Madison Circuit Court, and a possession of a controlled substance in Madison Circuit Court, all in 2022.

Under federal law, Taylor must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Rodney Richardson, Richmond Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The case was investigated by ATF and Richmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety - one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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