Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Man Charged With Stealing 13 Firearms From Pawn Shop
A Plano man has been charged with stealing more than a dozen guns from a local pawn shop, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Christian Alfredo Benitez-Ramirez, 28, was charged via criminal complaint with theft from a federal firearms licensee and arrested at his residence on Monday. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez that afternoon.
According to the complaint, on Jan. 30, Mr. Benitez-Ramirez allegedly entered a Cash America Pawn in Duncanville, walked to the rear of the store, reached over the counter, and attempted to open the sliding door of a firearm display cabinet.
When the door didn’t open, the defendant hoisted himself over the counter and attempted to gather an armful of firearms from a rack on the wall. He saw that the firearms were attached to the wall via a cable, whipped out a pocketknife, and attempted to cut the cords.
When that didn’t work, Mr. Benitez-Ramirez pulled the cable and attachment from the wall, gathered up an armful of firearms, and – with additional guns still attached to the cable dragging behind him – exited the store and loaded the firearms into a Honda CR-V.
Cash America employees told law enforcement that when they saw the defendant behind the counter, they asked if he worked there, and the defendant answered that he did. Not recognizing him, several employees pressed store panic buttons.
The store reported five shotguns, one pistol, and seven rifles as stolen.
A criminal complaint is merely and allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Benitez-Ramirez is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs is prosecuting the case.