A Michigan man has admitted to a daring crime.
The crime involved the kidnapping of a sporting goods store manager and the theft of over 100 firearms.
Darnell Bishop, 33, faces the possibility of life in prison after pleading guilty to the charges on Tuesday.
The plea deal, as reported by the Department of Justice, includes admissions of kidnapping and using a firearm during a violent crime that took place on November 16, 2023.
Bishop's brother, Dontrell Nance, was also implicated in the crime.
He had pleaded guilty to the same charges in April and awaits sentencing later this month, according to the DOJ.
In the plea agreement, Bishop confessed that he and Nance targeted the manager of Dunham's Sports in Benton Harbor.
They went to the manager’s home, where they handcuffed and blindfolded him at gunpoint.
The brothers then forced the manager to provide the security code needed to disable the store’s alarm system.
Following this, the two men proceeded to the sporting goods store.
Bishop, according to the Associated Press, admitted to stealing two coolers, sunglasses, and a staggering 123 pistols, while Nance stayed in the car with the store manager.
The theft was captured on video, which was later used as evidence in the case.
The stolen guns, valued at over $100,000 by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, have since been recovered by authorities.
Mark Totten, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, emphasized the commitment of his office to prosecuting individuals contributing to gun violence.
"Darnell Bishop’s audacious crimes had they succeeded, would have introduced a large number of illegal firearms onto the streets of Benton Harbor and beyond," Totten stated.
"I am thankful for the quick and effective work of our law enforcement partners who dismantled this criminal operation."
James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Detroit Field Division, highlighted the importance of addressing armed robberies involving Federal Firearms License dealers.
He noted that Tuesday's plea deal represented an optimal outcome for both the dealers and their employees.
"The message remains clear: our community has no tolerance for illegal firearms traffickers and those who prey on business owners and their staff, who are merely trying to make an honest living," Deir said.
The date for Bishop’s sentencing has yet to be set.
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