Ryan Ansart, a 22-year-old from West Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court in Bangor for his involvement in the theft of 15 guns from a pawn shop in Waterville. Along with Damiean Marcial-Alexander, 21, they broke into J.R.’s Trading & Pawn in April 2022, using a hammer to break a glass display case and gather the firearms. The theft was planned over Instagram and text messages, with evidence including photos on Ansart’s phone showing him and Marcial-Alexander holding some of the stolen guns.
Marcial-Alexander pleaded guilty in May, and both men could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release. While no sentencing date has been set for Ansart, authorities mentioned that some of the stolen guns were sold in the weeks following the burglary. Another individual, Jadin Andino, was arrested for possessing one of the stolen firearms in September 2023.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Waterville Police Department. The evidence collected, including Instagram messages and a map showing the route to the pawn shop, highlighted the planning that went into the burglary. This case serves as a reminder of the consequences of gun theft and the importance of collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies to address such criminal activities.
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Photo credit www.centralmaine.com
