WASHINGTON, DC – Early this morning, law enforcement officials arrested Tyjuan McNeal, 27, from Washington, D.C., marking the fifth defendant apprehended in an 11-count indictment. The indictment relates to the theft of nearly three dozen firearms from a Glen Burnie, Maryland pawn shop on December 13. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Alongside McNeal, Vincent Lee Alston, Juwon Markel Anderson, and Niquan Odumn, all from Washington, D.C., and Cy’Juan Hemsley from District Heights, Maryland, are facing charges. The charges include conspiracy to commit firearm trafficking, theft from a federal firearms licensee, unlawful possession of stolen and by a convicted felon firearms, and interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle. Alston and Anderson were taken into custody on December 15, with Hemsley and Odumn already in custody.
U.S. Attorney Graves emphasized the seriousness of the crime, highlighting the threat posed by the illegal spread of firearms within the community. Special Agent in Charge Kailimai also stressed the danger of these weapons entering the streets of D.C., acknowledging the efforts to prevent further distribution.
The indictment outlines the group’s objective to transport and sell the stolen firearms within the District. On the day of the robbery, the indicted individuals reportedly used a portable saw and a crowbar to break into the pawn shop, stealing 34 firearms and fleeing in a stolen red sedan. Subsequent attempts were made to sell some of the stolen firearms, including a video sent by Hemsley showcasing two of the guns with the captions “I got u a gift” and “I got u a missile.” Another co-conspirator is alleged to have transferred four firearms to an unknown third party the following day.