Two men sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing 50 firearms from Virginia store

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Maryland man and a Washington man were sentenced for the burglary of a federal firearms licensee (FFL) from which they stole 50 firearms.

According to court documents, on April 29, 2023, Victor Jones, 22, of Washington, Cedric Minger, 22, of Brandywine, Maryland, and two other co-conspirators drove a stolen Acura ILX from Washington to an FFL in Springfield, Virginia, with the intention of breaking in and stealing firearms. After his initial attempts to gain entry, including shooting a round at the door with a firearm, were unsuccessful, Minger was able to wriggle his way through an opening at the top of the doorframe. Once inside, Minger quickly grabbed firearms from around the store and passed them through the door to Jones and the others, who then loaded them into the stolen Acura ILX.

Jones, Minger, and their co-conspirators then transported the stolen firearms to Washington and later offered them for sale. One of the stolen firearms was recovered from a student at an elementary school.

Jones and Minger pled guilty on June 20 to conspiracy to steal firearms from an FFL and stealing firearms from an FFL. On Sept. 4, Jones was sentenced to nine years in prison. Minger was sentenced today to nine years and six months in prison.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Steve T. Descano, Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith J. Edwards and Cristina Stam prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-39.