Columbus men sentenced to prison on gun theft charges

Nicole Sanders
·2 min read

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Two Columbus men were sentenced to federal prison on Tuesday after the U.S. Attorney’s Office said they admitted to helping supply stolen guns to rival street gangs in the area.

Daquan Braxton, 20, was sentenced to 120 months after he previously pled guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms license on Jan. 23.

Tarcus Sanders, aka TJ, 22, also pled guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms license on Jan. 24. He was sentenced to 33 months.

These co-defendants also entered guilty pleas, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia:

“Joshua Holland aka “Lou” aka “Luke,” 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Jan. 24, and faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count;

Robert Holman, 34, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Feb. 13, and faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine;

James David Lowery, 28, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Feb. 27, and faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and

Jerry Starks aka “John Hill,” 31, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Feb. 24, and faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.”

Those sentencing dates have yet to be determined.

According to court documents, co-conspirators admitted to stealing firearms from local businesses to sell to rival criminal street gangs in 2022. These gangs include the Zohannon and the Marlo organizations.

Sanders admitted to being part of a burglary at Northside Money Mizer Pawn Shop on Manchester Expressway on Aug. 9, 2022. At about 1:35 a.m., Holland crashed a stolen car through the front of the pawnshop. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says he then stole five firearms (two pistols and three rifles) from the business while Sanders and others carried the stolen guns or acted as a look-out.

Nearly a month later on Sept. 7 at about 1:46 a.m., Holland and co-conspirators forced entry into A Better Pawn on 2nd Ave. to steal 19 firearms (11 rifles, seven shotguns and one pistol). Prior to this, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says Sanders admitted he and some others scoped out the store, checking its locks to prepare for the burglary.

Less than ten days later, the Money Mizer Pawn Shop in Phenix City was also burglarized. Six burglars, one of which was Braxton, forced their way into the store to steal eight firearms.

Phenix City police responded to an alarm call at the shop and then found a white Ford F-150 backed up to the front door. A chase ensured when the truck sped off, but it ended when the truck got stuck in a ditch.

Both Braxton and Holland were arrested. The firearms were recovered.

This case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department, the Phenix City Police Department and ATF.

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