TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today secured 65-year prison sentences for two defendants guilty of a smash-and-dash gun store burglary. In May, a jury convicted Jehosthat Brady and Quinton Montgomery for burglary of a structure while using a vehicle as an instrumentality and 35 counts of grand theft of a firearm, as charged before Judge Michelle Sisco, in the 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County. A third defendant, Demarcus Marsh, is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12, 2019.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “These criminals brazenly smashed into a Tampa gun store, stole firearms and fled—many of the guns are still missing. I am pleased with today’s sentencing and for the efforts of my statewide prosecutors, the ATF and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for pursuing this case and fighting for lengthy prison sentences for those involved.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary said, “These sentencings are another example of how strong law enforcement partnerships working to serve and protect communities can reduce violent firearms crime and mitigate dangerous individuals from committing further acts of violence.”
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, “It is a nightmare come true, whenever firearms are stolen and fall into the wrong hands. Today is a result of the tireless work done by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the Statewide Prosecution and ATF. Residents in this great county can take comfort in knowing we are dedicated to protecting their sense of security and seeking justice for those that seek to disrupt it.”
According to an investigation by Attorney General Moody’s OSP, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the burglars traveled in stolen vehicles from Orlando to Tampa in the early morning hours of Nov. 29, 2016. Using a stolen Ford Raptor pick-up truck, the burglars smashed through a Tampa Arms Company store window on Waters Avenue. The burglars gained entry grabbing as many firearms as possible in a short amount of time. In total, 35 firearms were stolen, including 21 handguns, 11 rifles and three shotguns that were later sold in Orlando.
The defendants are allegedly part of a much larger group based in Orlando, using stolen vehicles to facilitate several types of smash-and-dash burglaries. The 20-member group stole from department and retail stores to steal guns, jewelry, electronics, sporting goods and more.
In July, OSP secured a 40-year sentence for James Moore in connection to the burglary in this case. For more information on that case, click here.
Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Cass Castillo and Paul Dontenville handled the case.
The Orlando Police Department also assisted during the course of this investigation and prosecution.
