Metro Denver Carjacker/Gun Store Robber Sentenced To 8 Years In Federal Prison

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Jonathan Estrada, age 21, of Denver was sentenced yesterday to serve 96 months (8 years) in federal prison followed by 3 years on supervised release for carjacking and robbery of two gun stores.  Estrada appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody and was remanded at its conclusion.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver Field Division joined in this announcement.

Estrada and others were involved in violent “smash and grab” burglaries of two gun stores, stealing at least 30 firearms.

According to the stipulated facts from the plea agreement, on September 19, 2017, Estrada and another person burglarized Reloader’s gun store in Arvada, Colorado, after throwing a rock through a glass window.  They stole seventeen firearms and left in a stolen vehicle. 

On the morning of December 26, 2017, Estrada committed an armed carjacking in Arvada, where he fired a shot at an individual, then stealing the victim’s 2008 BMW. 

On January 18, 2018, the defendant and five others burglarized Murdoch’s gun store in Littleton.  They entered the store after throwing a rock through a glass window.  They spent 3 minutes in the store, stealing 13 AR-15 style firearms.  That evening, the ATF executed a search warrant at Estrada’s address.  Agents found evidence related to the September 19, 2017 and January 18, 2018 gun store burglaries, as well as the armed carjacking.

“Gun crime is a top priority for the Department of Justice and our office,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “Seizing these weapons and putting this defendant in prison for 8 years will unquestionably make our communities safer.”

“The community is safer as a result of this investigation,” said ATF Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge David Booth.  “ATF will combat violent crime with every resource as its disposal.”

This case was investigated by the ATF.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Treaster.  The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.  For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.