A Joliet man, Lucious Machiavelli, also known as Robert Allen Boyden, has been sentenced to six years and five months in prison following his admission of stealing firearms from a Billings pawnshop. The sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
Machiavelli, aged 48, pleaded guilty in August to theft from a federal firearms licensee. The sentencing was overseen by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, who also ordered restitution amounting to $8,783.
Court documents revealed that the burglary occurred at Pawnbrokers West in Billings on September 11, 2023, just before 3 a.m., resulting in the theft of ten firearms. While some firearms were recovered from a co-defendant's residence after being brought there by Machiavelli, five remain missing. Another co-defendant confirmed that he and Machiavelli committed the break-in.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Billings Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This incident is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, this strategy emphasizes trust-building within communities and supports organizations focused on violence prevention.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.