Bedford man sentenced to prison for stealing guns from firearms dealer
NEW ALBANY — Calvin Levi Johnson, 20, of Bedford, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft from a federally licensed firearms dealer, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to court documents, on Jan. 11, 2022, at approximately 2:11 in the morning, officers with the Bedford Police Department (BPD) responded to a burglary alarm at a local knife and gun shop.
Surrounding security cameras showed Johnson using a hammer to break a display case, remove 16 handguns and place them inside a backpack. BPD obtained a search warrant for Johnson’s residence where they found four firearms inside a black “Champion” book bag on the floor by his bed. All of the stolen firearms have been located and confiscated by law enforcement.
“Thefts from gun retailers help to arm criminals and drive the violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary A. Myers. “Identification and prosecution of gun traffickers helps to stem violent crime at its source and is a top priority for federal law enforcement. I commend the ATF, Indiana State Police, and the Bedford Police Department for their efforts to hold this criminal accountable and track down all of the stolen guns to ensure they aren’t in the hands of dangerous, prohibited individuals.”
“Stolen firearms are a significant source of crime guns for violent criminals,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “As the federal agency with both a responsibility to investigate violent firearms crimes and regulatory oversight of the firearms industry, we are committed to finding those responsible for burglaries like this one. We will join with our partners to bring them to justice and disrupt the flow of firearms from lawful commerce to the criminal element.”
ATF investigated this case, with assistance provided by the Indiana State Police and the Bedford Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered Johnson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for two years following his release from federal prison.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Calvin Johnson sentenced for theft from Bedford firearms dealer
