Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

LAS VEGAS – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) working with San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSD), Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and North Las Vegas Police Department (NLVPD) arrested four men on federal firearms charges with connections to the Poway federal firearms licensee burglary, which occurred earlier this week.

On Monday, SDSD responded at 3:18 a.m. to a burglary at Poway Weapons and Gear of San Diego, 13550 Danielson St., Poway, Calif. A vehicle (later determined to be stolen) smashed through the storefront. Four individuals entered the store, stole 78 firearms within four minutes, and fled in another vehicle.

The SDSD and ATF San Diego investigation led law enforcement to Las Vegas where later in the day ATF Las Vegas Field Office, LVMPD, and NLVPD executed a search warrant on a residence. Law enforcement seized 35 firearms stolen from Poway Weapons and Gear during the search of the residence and from two of the individuals.

A federal complaint was filed Wednesday, charging Ky’von Love Bernard Payne, 18, of Boron, Nevada, with transportation of stolen firearms. Semaj’e Ridgeway, 21, of North Las Vegas, and Payne were charged with possession of stolen firearms and firearms trafficking. Jahova Bell, 18, of Las Vegas, and Lanell Bellows, 19 of Las Vegas, were also charged with firearms trafficking.

According to the federal complaint, Payne arrived at Ridgeway’s residence in Las Vegas in the car that was placed the burglary. He then bought in two bags to the residence. During a search warrant at Ridgeway’s residence later that day, law enforcement located 33 of the 78 stolen firearms. When arrested, Bell and Bellows had two more of the firearms stolen from the Poway federal firearm licensee. The investigation continues to locate the additional stolen firearms not yet recovered.

ATF works with its local, state and federal partners to investigate firearms-related charges and provide resources to reduce violent crime in our communities. This case is being prosecuted out of U.S. District Court, District of Nevada

For more information about Los Angeles ATF visit https://www.atf.gov/los-angeles-field-division and follow ATF on Twitter @LosAngelesATF.

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