Two men sentenced to 9 years for massive gun theft from Virginia store

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Two men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a brazen burglary where they took 50 guns from a store in Springfield, Virginia. The men then brought the guns into D.C. and sold them for cash. Investigators say one of the stolen guns ended up in the hands of an elementary school student.

Victor Jones, 22, from Washington, D.C., and Cedric Minger, 22, of Brandywine, Maryland, were handed prison sentences of nine years and nine years and six months, respectively, following their guilty pleas. The sentencing was the culmination of a case that began with the burglary on April 29, 2023.

The crime spree began when Jones, Minger, and two accomplices drove a stolen Acura ILX from Washington to Dominion Defense in Springfield. Their plan to break into the store was initially thwarted when Minger's attempts to shoot open the door failed. However, Minger found a way in by maneuvering through an opening at the top of the doorframe. Inside, he quickly gathered guns, which he passed to Jones and the others waiting outside. The stolen firearms were then loaded into the Acura ILX and transported back to Washington, where they were offered for sale.

The seriousness of the crime was underscored when one of the stolen guns ended up in the possession of a student at an elementary school.

Jones was sentenced on Sept. 4. Minger was sentenced on Wednesday.