Gun thieves show off wares on social media, feds say
An ABC7 I-Team Investigation
CHICAGO (WLS) -- An accused trio of Chicago-area gun thieves "recorded videos of themselves holding the stolen firearms and posted them online," according to indictments announced Wednesday by federal authorities.
The three men, all in their 20's, allegedly crashed a stolen SUV into a Streator, Ill., gun store last summer and stole 20 firearms, federal ATF agents said. The men, identified as Romeo "O-Dog" Blackman, Rashad "Bamboo" Anchando and Keith "Punchy" Gullens, have histories of gun and drug crimes and violence.
They are charged with conspiring to steal firearms from South Post Guns in Streator after smashing through the front of the gun shop, according to the indictment. Once inside the store, the defendants smashed the glass casing where the firearms were displayed and took 18 handguns, one rifle and one shotgun, the indictment states.
Two of the men, Anchando and Blackman, appear to be particularly proud of their guns and are seen posing in photos on their personal Facebook pages.
Authorities say the gun shop bandits concealed their identities with dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts, apparently similar to the face wrap seen on Blackman's Facebook page.
Chicago police records reveal a lengthy criminal sheet on Blackman even though he is only 21 years old.
Federal agents say the men met at a house in Streator after the gun shop burglary. They allegedly recorded videos of themselves holding the stolen firearms and posted them online, the indictment states. The price tags were removed from the stolen guns and then taken to Chicago, investigators say, where they conspired to either sell them or use them.
Currently two of the men, Anchando and Gullens, are locked up in the Illinois Department of Corrections for previous convictions. They are scheduled to appear on June 13 in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman in Chicago. Blackman is being held in the LaSalle County jail.
Arraignments for Anchando and Gullens are scheduled for June 13 in front of before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman in Chicago. Arraignment for Blackman is set before Judge Weisman on June 15.
Federal prosecutors say the conspiracy count is punishable by up to five years in prison, while the other counts carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.
