Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Virginia
For Immediate Release
Monday, March 20, 2017
Dana J. Boente
Contact: Joshua Stueve
Three Men Arrested and Charged with Burglaries of Firearms Dealers
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three local men who allegedly participated in several recent burglaries of local firearms dealers made their initial appearances here today in federal court.
Preston G. Holmes, 23; Matthew D. Jones, 23; and Daniel L. Quarles, 19, were charged today with conspiracy and theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer. According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, the conspirators allegedly participated in three burglaries of federally licensed firearms dealers in the last 10 days: The March 11 burglary of 50 West Armory in Chantilly, where they allegedly stole 35 semi-automatic handguns in 45 seconds, and the March 14 burglaries of A.S.H. Tactical and SSG Tactical in Fredericksburg.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, law enforcement received a tip regarding the identities of the suspects and their criminal conduct. Law enforcement agents executed arrest warrants this past weekend and each defendant was charged in federal court today.
Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael B. Boxler, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after the initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander E. Blanchard is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-mj-132.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
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