Press Release
Final Defendant Responsible for Theft of Firearms from Cabela's Sentenced to Federal Prison
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado
DENVER – Kendall Crockett, aka “Grizzle,” age 23 of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced on August 10, 2018, by U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer to serve 80 months in federal prison for theft of firearms from a federal firearm licensee (FFL) and possession of stolen firearms, U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer and ATF Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Debbie Livingston announced. After serving his prison sentence, Judge Brimmer ordered Crockett to serve 3 years on supervised release.
Two other defendants were also sentenced by Judge Brimmer for participating in the same FFL theft as well as an additional FFL theft. Darnell Hudgens, age 24 of Denver, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $107,558.61 in restitution. Giavanni Edward Miles, age 21 of Denver was sentenced by Judge Brimmer to serve 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, and ordered to pay $107,558.61 in restitution, joint and several with defendant Hudgens. All three defendants were members of the Bloods street gang.
The three defendants were first indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on September 25, 2017. Miles pled guilty on January 1, 2018, and was sentenced on April 12, 2018. Hudgens pled guilty on January 1, 2018, and was sentenced on April 20, 2018. Crockett pled guilty February 21, 2018. All three defendants have since appealed.
According to court documents, including the defendants’ stipulated facts in their plea agreements, on August 21, 2017, at approximately 2:05 a.m., the defendants and another suspect broke into the Cabela’s, a federally licensed firearm dealer, located at 14050 Lincoln Street in Thornton. They stole fifty-six firearms. Surveillance video showed that three suspects ran into the store, grabbed the firearms, and placed them in backpacks they were wearing on their chests. They then ran toward the emergency exit, which was obstructed. They then ran through the front door and continued east through a field. Crockett was waiting as the lookout and getaway driver in a second car, and they fled the scene in that car. After the burglary, the defendants distributed the stolen firearms to fellow Bloods gang members, including gang members who the defendants knew were prohibited from possessing firearms.
“These crimes often take tireless work to investigate and prosecute,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer. “But as this one proves, ATF, our prosecutors, and our local partners do not relent. They find the thieves, and they find the guns. Simple as that.”
“These individuals deserve to be behind bars,” said Debbie Livingston, ATF Denver Special Agent in Charge. “Thefts of this kind will not be tolerated in Denver. I am proud of the work done by our Special Agents and partners that led to their arrest.”
This case was investigated by the ATF. The defendants were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily May.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Contact
Jeff Dorschner
Spokesman, Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado
303-454-0243 direct / 303-454-0400 fax
Updated August 29, 2018
Topic
Firearms Offenses
Component