Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on October 7, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, VICTOR A. ADAMS, age 21, pled guilty to theft of firearms from a federal licensee. Sentencing is set for January 7, 2010. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Zink, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On February 18, 2009, two males and a female entered Scheels All Sports in Billings. The males approached a glass case containing firearms and managed to open the case. One or both reached in and removed two firearms, later identified as a Beretta 21A .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Magnum Research Micro Eagle .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

The two men escaped without apprehension but store video equipment taped the theft and clearly captured images of the two males, along with a female nearby, during the commission of the theft.

Billings Police detectives and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents coordinated their investigation as it overlapped the ongoing investigation involving the recent theft of firearms from DaddyO's pawn shop. Investigation and witness statements led to the discovery of ADAMS' involvement relatively quickly. Several witnesses identified ADAMS on the video surveillance.

When interviewed, ADAMS provided a full confession and implicated the other involved male.

Presently, neither of the stolen firearms from Scheels have been recovered.

ADAMS faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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