Final member of federal firearms dealer burglary crew convicted following a jury trial

ROME, Ga. - Demontra Sharod Lucear has been convicted by a jury of conspiring to steal guns from federally licensed firearms dealers and to possessing stolen firearms. Lucear was one of seven defendants charged with conspiracy to burglarize ten gun stores in Georgia and Alabama from October through November 2015.

“Burglarizing gun stores and trafficking those stolen guns to convicted felons and other prohibited persons presents a serious threat to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Thanks to our federal, multi-state, and local law enforcement partners, Lucear and his co-defendants are off the streets and can no longer continue their criminal enterprise.”

“Anyone who steals guns does so for one purpose,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Arthur Peralta.  “They steal guns to use them in a violent criminal act.  These seven individuals did not consider the harm they would cause by putting these guns on the street.  I sincerely hope their arrest and conviction serves to deter anyone else who would consider this type of criminal act.  Georgia law enforcement agencies are working together to identify and arrest anyone who steals guns.” 

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: Lucear and his six co-defendants burglarized seven federally licensed firearms dealers, and attempted to burglarize three more, between October and November 2015. In all, the crew stole 132 firearms which they later sold to others. Law enforcement officers recovered several of the firearms during criminal arrests. Lucear’s co-defendants previously pleaded guilty as follows:

• On July 18, 2016, Eric Jerome Moore pleaded guilty to theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and to being a felon in possession of a firearm;
   
• On June 24, 2016, Jakeisia Miller pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms;
   
• On July 25, 2016, Dillon James Leborgne pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms, and theft of firearms, from a federally licensed firearms dealer;
   
• On August 1, 2016, Jacquez Miller pleaded guilty to theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer;
   
• On November 14, 2016, Jameel Yusuff Drinkard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms, and theft of firearms, from a federally licensed firearms dealer, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm; and
   
• On November 17, 2016, Terry Eugene Brown pled guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms, and three counts of theft of firearms, from a federally licensed firearms dealer.

Sentencing for Demontra Sharod Lucear, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, is scheduled for January 6, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. before United States District Judge Mark H. Cohen.  In determining Lucear’s actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating this case. Agents of ATF worked closely with multi-state and local law enforcement offices to connect the thefts and develop information on the conspirators. These agencies include the Tallapoosa Police Department, Dalton Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Police Department, Thomson Police Department, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Warner Robbins Police Department, Lagrange Police Department, and the Pearl, Mississippi Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.