Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

OXFORD, Miss. – A Sheffield, Alabama man was sentenced on Thursday to more than 17 years in prison for burglarizing two gun stores, possessing stolen firearms, and transporting those firearms to Chicago and New Jersey.

According to court documents, Marquis Devon McCray, 34 years old, masterminded the February 17, 2019, burglary of Oxford Pawn Shop in which 35 firearms were stolen. McCray and his co-defendants then transported those guns to New Jersey where they were sold on the streets. Ten of those guns have been recovered by law enforcement in the Newark, New Jersey area after they were used in violent crimes. McCray also led a group in the August 1, 2019, burglary of TNT Pawn in Booneville, Mississippi. McCray and his co-defendants stole 49 firearms and transported those guns to Chicago. The group sold those guns on the streets in Chicago. A number of those guns have been involved in shootings in Chicago and recovered by Chicago Police.

During a sentencing hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced McCray to 210 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $58,158.73 for the value of the stolen firearms and damage to the property.

“This defendant callously helped contribute to violence and misery in communities that were already struggling with extreme levels of gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “He deserves every day of his sentence, and we are proud to stand with ATF and our state and local partners to stem the illegal flow of firearms.”

“Bringing our expertise and resources to target individuals and organizations that plague our communities with gun trafficking and violence is a top priority of ATF,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.”

McCray’s co-defendant, Galvin Davis, was previously sentenced to 14 years for his role in the commission of one of the burglaries.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Oxford Resident Agency, Oxford Police Department, Booneville Police Department, Corinth Police Department, ATF Newark Resident Agency, and the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.