Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to crashing a car into a Cabela’s store in hopes of stealing guns, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Kyle Mendez, 30, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal guns from a licensed firearms dealer and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In his plea, Mendez admitted he crashed a car into an exterior door of a Cabela’s store in Kansas City, Kan. He and co-defendant Brenda Tosh, 27, Kansas City, Kan., took rifles from a firearms section and loaded them into a shopping cart. When police arrived, Mendez fled from the store while police arrested Tosh.

Mendez admitted he had a .45-caliber Taurus handgun in his car during the break-in. He was prohibited from having a gun because of a prior felony conviction.

Mendez is set for sentencing Nov. 26. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of four years in prison.

Co-defendant Tosh pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing Sept. 30.

McAllister commended the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.

###