Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Andrew Grady, 24, of Syracuse pled guilty today in federal court to conspiracy to steal firearms from a licensed dealer in connection with the November 20, 2014 break-in at Intimidator Sports in Nedrow, New York, where nine (9) handguns were stolen, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict.

 

The burglary occurred during the early morning hours of November 20, 2014, when two persons used a sledgehammer to smash through the front doors of Intimidator Sports, triggering an alarm. Bolt cutters were used to sever a cable securing the nine (9) handguns to a display case after which the thieves fled with the stolen firearms. On January 5, 2015, Syracuse Police stopped a car driven by Leron Ross for failing to observe a stop sign. As officers were checking the status of his suspended driver’s license, Leron Ross drove off. During the ensuing pursuit, Syracuse Police saw Ross throw a handgun from the window of his car, which was later recovered and found to be a Glock .45 caliber pistol stolen in the break-in. A subsequent search warrant executed on the car by Onondaga County Sheriff’s detectives located a sledgehammer and gloves identical to those used in the burglary. Since the burglary, Syracuse Police have recovered four (4) of the stolen pistols in various locations.

 

Leron Ross was prosecuted by the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and after pleading guilty, was sentenced to serve three and one half to seven years in state prison. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department continued to investigate and later filed a federal criminal complaint charging Leron Ross and Andrew Grady with the burglary and conspiracy.  Leron Ross pled guilty on June 14, 2016 in federal court to stealing all nine (9) handguns and was subsequently sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $6,686.00 in restitution to the victim.

 

Sentencing for Andrew Grady is scheduled for August 17, 2017, at which time he could receive up to five (5) years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years, a special assessment of $100, and a fine of up to $250,000.00. In addition, the Court can order restitution to the victim.

 

This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department, and the Syracuse Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Southwick and Emmet O’Hanlon with assistance from the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office.