Kaderion Stokes, a 19-year-old resident of Memphis, has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing firearms and possessing a machinegun conversion device. The announcement was made by Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
The incident dates back to September 9, 2023, when approximately 166 firearms were stolen from a Federal Firearms Licensee business in Atoka, Tennessee. An officer from the Atoka Police Department noticed a GMC Sierra truck parked suspiciously at the site. As the officer approached, the truck sped away. It was later discovered that the vehicle had crashed into the store's interior to facilitate the theft.
Stokes emerged as a suspect after being arrested in October 2023 on unrelated charges in Memphis. During his arrest, he was found with two of the stolen firearms. A federal grand jury subsequently indicted him, leading to his arrest by U.S. Marshals in Memphis. He was also found with a firearm equipped with a "switch," or machinegun conversion device.
Following his guilty plea on October 31, 2024, Senior United States District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Stokes on January 29, 2025, to an 87-month federal prison term followed by three years of supervised release. In federal cases such as this one, parole is not an option.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Atoka Police Department, United States Marshals Service and Memphis Police Department.
Reagan Fondren extended gratitude towards Assistant United States Attorneys Marques Young and Eileen Kuo along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Raven Icaza for prosecuting this case effectively.