Final Defendant Receives 31-Year-Sentence in Kemp’s Pharmacy Burglary

FFL Theft Yields Hefty Sentence for New York Defendant

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Wayne Evans, 31, was sentenced to 380 months in federal prison and 36 months supervised release yesterday, by U.S. District Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield, of the Southern Judicial District of Georgia. Evans was found guilty by a jury trial on July 13, to several firearms-related charges. Wayne Evans, aka “Smiley,” of New York, N.Y., and co-defendant Jordy Melvin, of Claxton, Ga., were indicted in a six-count indictment on Dec. 7, 2010. The pair was charged with Conspiracy in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 371, Theft of Firearms in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. section 924(l), Theft from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(u) and Receiving Stolen Firearms in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(j). Evans was also charged with Possession of Firearms by a Felon in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g) (1) and Transportation of Stolen Firearms in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(I). Specifically, the indictment alleged that Evans conspired with Melvin to take, steal, and carry away firearms from the business inventory of Kemp’s Pharmacy. Twenty-eight firearms were stolen in all. Evans was found guilty by a jury trial on July 13, on all charges previously alleged. Melvin was sentenced in July to a 110-month federal prison sentence followed by 36 months of supervised released.

“This case exemplifies the collaboration between ATF, its local and state law enforcement partners and the firearms industry,” said ATF Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Scott Sweetow. “By working together, we were able to solve a case which had the potential to negatively impact the streets of Georgia, New York, and all points between. Although the culprits have been brought to justice, we continue to ask for assistance as we work to remove the remaining stolen firearms from our streets. To those who victimize gun stores through these burglaries, our message is simple, ’Solving these types of crimes is one of our major priorities, and we will relentlessly pursue you and your stolen wares in concert with our partners, we will seek to put you behind bars.‘”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), in conjunction with the Claxton Police Department, the Evans County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.