Vincent Lee Alston and Niquan Odum, both 23 and residents of Washington D.C., have entered guilty pleas in a U.S. District Court concerning their involvement in the December 2023 burglary of 34 firearms from a Maryland pawn shop. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Alston, also known as "Vedo," admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Odum, referred to as "Stickz," pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and possession of stolen firearms. Sentencing hearings are set for June 27, 2025, for Alston and June 13, 2025, for Odum. Alston has been detained since his arrest on December 15, 2023, while Odum was apprehended on March 25, 2024.
Juwon Markel Anderson, aka "Peezy," aged 22 from Washington D.C., also pleaded guilty on March 4 to conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Other individuals charged include Cy’Juan Hemsley from District Heights, Maryland, aged 18, and Tyjuan McNeal from Washington D.C., aged 28.
Court documents reveal that on December 13, 2023, the group traveled from Washington D.C. to A&D Pawn Shop in Glen Burnie, Maryland—a Federal Firearms Licensee location—where they executed the burglary using tools like a portable saw and crowbar-type instrument to gain entry. The conspirators took rifles, shotguns, and pistols before advertising them for sale via social media platforms. Alston was arrested two days later with one of the stolen firearms.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Metropolitan Police Department and supported by the ATF Baltimore Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes are prosecuting this case.