Man sentenced in theft of Lakeland gun stores - News - The Ledger

Suzie Schottelkotte @southpolkscene

TAMPA – A federal judge sentenced a Tampa man to 30 months in prison Tuesday for stealing firearms from two Lakeland gun stores in January.

Oscar Garcia Garcia, 33, pleaded guilty to the thefts in May. A warrant has been issued for his co-defendant, Jerry Nelson Reyes Torres, on an indictment for stealing firearms and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a Justice Department press release.

Court documents say Garcia and Torres burglarized Rapture Guns and Knives, 8216 U.S. 98 N., on Jan. 9, and broke into Guns Galore, 2440 U.S. 92 East, 20 days later. In total, 104 firearms were taken.

The men dismantled the lock on the front door to gain access to each store, then broke the display cases and loaded the firearms into duffel bags before leaving in a vehicle outside, the press release states.

The following month, law officers detained Garcia and another man after witnessing them smoking marijuana outside the Tampa apartment where Garcia and Torres lived, according to the press release. The man with Garcia told authorities he was holding two firearms for Garcia, and he consented to let officers search his residence. Officers determined the two firearms had been stolen from Rapture Guns and Knives, which led to Garcia’s arrest.

Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. Follow her on Twitter @southpolkscene.

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