Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jonathon Combs, age 43, of Granville, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of theft of firearms from a licensed dealer, and to using firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli; and Washington County Sherriff Jeffrey J. Murphy made the announcement.

Combs admitted to stealing firearms from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes, a federally licensed firearms dealer, in Hudson Falls, New York, on two separate dates in October 2022.  On the second occasion, Combs and a co-conspirator used a sledgehammer to break into the store after hours and steal 31 semi-automatic pistols.  Combs and the co-conspirator subsequently exchanged most of the stolen pistols to another individual in return for a supply of cocaine.

Combs faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 5 years when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The following defendants still face charges in this case, and face the following penalties:

These charges are merely accusations, and Taft and Mitchell are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

NYSP, ATF and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance provided by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Allen J. Vickey are prosecuting this case.