Two MD Men Charged with Stealing Over 50 Firearms from VA Firearms Store; Attempted to Burglarize Rockville Gun Store

A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging two Maryland residents with the burglary of a federal firearms licensee (FFL), conspiracy to steal firearms from FFLs, and interstate transportation of stolen firearms and stolen vehicles.

According to allegations in the indictment, Cedric Minger, 21, and Victor Jones, 22, stole more than 50 firearms–including pistols, rifles, short-barreled rifles, and silencers–from Dominion Defense, an FFL in Springfield, Virginia, on April 29, 2023. According to the indictment, as part of the conspiracy to steal firearms from FFLs, Minger and Jones attempted to burglarize Engage Armament in Rockville, Maryland, on April 30, 2023.

Additional info, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of VA: According to the indictment, Minger, Jones, and two co-conspirators traveled from Washington, D.C. to Dominion Defense in a stolen Acura ILX. After breaking the business’s exterior glass door, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly struggled to gain entry through the interior door, with Minger at one point resorting to shooting at the door with a firearm. Ultimately, Minger allegedly shimmied his way through an opening at the top of the interior door. Once inside, Minger allegedly grabbed more than 50 firearms, passing them along to his co-conspirators, including Jones, who then loaded them into the stolen Acura, which they used to flee back to Washington, D.C.

According to the indictment, as part of the conspiracy to steal firearms from FFLs, Minger and Jones attempted to burglarize Engage Armament in Rockville, Maryland, on April 30, 2023, and Minger and at least two co-conspirators attempted to burglarize Top Gun Firearms in Fallston, Maryland, on May 10, 2023.

The indictment also charges Minger and Jones with multiple counts relating to the possession and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, including the above-mentioned Acura and a Nissan Sentra used to travel to and from the attempted burglary of Top Gun Firearms.

If convicted, Minger and Jones face a maximum of five years in prison for the conspiracy to steal firearms from FFLs, and up to 10 years in prison for each additional count charged in the indictment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Steve T. Descano, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County; Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement.

Significant assistance on this investigation was provided by the City of Fairfax Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department, Alexandria Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Maryland State Police, Prince George’s County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and Prince William County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Edwards and Cristina C. Stam are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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.