150+ down, 50 to go: Charges on the way in Joe Gun theft By Kelly Dame 02/21/2008 Email to a friend Post a Comment Printer-friendly Daily News/RYAN WOOD
Owner of Joe Gun Inc. Dale Furst, left, and his brother, Joe Furst, right, talk with Supervisory Special Agent George M. Krappmann from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after a press conference at the Midland Law Enforcement Center Wednesday. Officials announced the recovery of 154 weapons and arrests of seven people in connection with the robbery at Joe Gun earlier this month. |
Dale Furst, owner of Joe Gun Inc., was nothing but smiles as he checked out the long guns leaned against a wall in the basement of the Midland Law Enforcement Center on Wednesday. "I am happy," Furst said, explaining it's not all because so many of the stolen guns that he never thought he'd see again have been recovered. It's also because, to his knowledge, no one has been hurt with one of them. There were muzzle loaders, shot guns and rifles, some of them high dollar items. "There's every caliber you can think of," he said. More than 150 guns, ammunition and other items — including a Daily News article about the investigation — were recovered when Midland County Sheriff's deputies, the Special Weapons and Tactics Team and the ATF served three warrants Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The majority of the guns were found at a Greendale Township home, and arrests were made in Jerome, Mount Haley and Lee townships. The names of the three men who were arrested in Midland County have not been released, but two of them are 22 years old, and the remaining one is 20. Midland County Prosecutor Mike Carpenter said he is reviewing reports and videotapes, as well as speaking with Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael Thomas, before issuing any charges. The evidence was presented at a press conference on developments in the case of a break-in and the theft of more than 200 guns, a total value of $92,000. The break-in was on the night of Feb. 5 and into the morning of Feb. 6 at the store, 152 E. Saginaw Road in Sanford. Furst said he believes thieves cut the wires and left, returning later in the night to clean out the store. They took nearly his entire stock of firearms, leaving only six handguns, and ammunition, after prying open the steel door. "They knew what they were doing," he said, adding his belief that they most likely came into the shop pretending to be customers before they broke in. Furst said he was called on Tuesday morning by officials after they made two arrests and recovered four of the stolen guns in Saginaw County. "We thought yesterday things were going pretty good," Sheriff Jerry Nielsen said on Wednesday about the progress in Saginaw County. After those developments were announced and officials asked for the public's help in finding another suspect, "the tips started flowing in" to the sheriff's offices, the ATF and Crime Stoppers. "This morning, the puzzle just started coming together," Nielsen said Wednesday. Furst got a call at 11 a.m. from deputies telling him about the bust. "So when we walked in, my brother and I, we couldn't believe it," he said. Saginaw County Sheriff Charles Brown said the main suspect, 33-year-old Michael Anthony-James Louchart of Saginaw County, was picked up after a tip led officials to a home on Columbine Road in the St. Charles area. Officials are sure the seven people in custody — including one woman — are the main players in the case. "I really don't know the relationship of everybody at this point," Nielsen said. So far, Geri Lynn McClure, 22, Chesaning and another unnamed male suspect have been arraigned on charges of conducting a criminal enterprise, receiving and concealing stolen property, possession of burglar tools, conspiracy, possession of firearms by felons and three counts of felony firearms. Saginaw County officials also are charging Louchart and another unnamed man in connection to the case. Louchart was released from prison in 2003. Officials said his criminal past includes breaking and entering with the intent to steal, receiving and concealing stolen property, safe breaking and gun crimes. The next order of business for law enforcement is to find the remaining 50 or so weapons. To recover them, officials have made a one-time offer to anyone who might have purchased one of the guns. "Return them to us and we will not ask any questions," Nielsen said, adding prosecutors have authorized the deal. "There will be a time when we don't forgive," Brown added. Prices for the guns on the street ranged from $500 for one handgun sold in Midland County, to a caller who reported he'd lent a suspect $50 and held onto a gun as collateral, officials said. Furst said the guns that were recovered ranged in price from $150 to $2,000. "Until every gun is back, our job isn't done," said ATF Supervisory Special Agent George Krappmann. Once the guns are returned, it's up to prosecutors what will happen to the weapons. They usually are returned to the dealers, Krappmann said. The suspects also could face state or federal charges, or a combination of both. Krappmann said the gun theft was one of the biggest in the state in recent years. "In Michigan, this is one of the bigger thefts we've had," he said. "Typically, stolen firearms end up in the wrong hands and someone's gonna get hurt," Nielsen said, adding he's not slept well since the break-in. He and others were awake all night Tuesday, working with prosecutors and judges to get search warrants. Furst said many of the weapons — pointing out the ones with wooden stocks — have been damaged. He said some nice weapons were used to break the glass in display cases, while others have scratches and dings. This is the second time the store has been broken into, but the only time since Furst has been the owner. "I hope it never happens again." To make sure of it, he's already taken extra security measures. A list of the stolen guns is available at www.atf.treas.gov/field/detroit/press/021308_openFFLletter.htm. Krappmann said the list would be updated as soon as possible. Photos taken by Daily News photographers are available as reprints. ©Midland Daily News 2008
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