Department of Justice

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —On the evening of December 7 or early morning hours of December 8, 2018, two individuals, Matteo Adan Marroquin and Lacy Lynn Zimmerman, stole 22 firearms from Graafschap Hardware Store in Allegan County. Both pled guilty in federal court to the theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Law enforcement officers believe that all of the firearms stolen from Graafschap Hardware have been recovered.

On July 18, 2019, Judge Paul Maloney sentenced Marroquin to ten years in prison. Zimmerman, was also sentenced to ten years in prison on May 24, 2019. They were each also ordered to pay $9,013 in restitution. A third individual, Andrew Leenheer, who purchased two of those firearms after the burglary, was convicted of possession of a stolen firearm and sentenced to 44 months in prison on July 19, 2019.

“The theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee is a top priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Too often these stolen guns are used to commit violent crimes. ATF remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities.”

“The guns stolen from Graafschap Hardware were recovered through extraordinary police-work by WEMET, the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF,” said Andrew Birge, U.S. Attorney. “Investigating and prosecuting thefts from gun stores and recovering the stolen weapons are priorities because everyone in law enforcement recognizes the danger. Stolen firearms are most valuable to those who are prohibited from lawfully possessing them or who have bad intentions in mind or both.”

The case was investigated by the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, WEMET, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Berens prosecuted the case.

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