Judge sentences two Linn County men to over 10 years in prison for stealing guns

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two men Linn County men who stole guns from licensed firearms dealers in June were sentenced to Tuesday to more than 10 years in federal prison.

John Gillespie, 19, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty in August and Jeremy Reynolds, 18, of Hiawatha, pleaded guilty in September to two counts of theft from a federal firearms licensee.

During their plea hearings, both Gillespie and Reynolds admitted to breaking into America's Second Amendment Firearms in Cedar Rapids on June 3 and Midwest Shooting in Hiawatha on June 16. The men stole 60 guns from the two stores.

Authorities arrested Reynolds near Midwest Shooting shortly after the burglary. Officers arrested Gillespie several hours later after locating him in a car with a duffle bag of multiple guns stolen from Midwest Shooting. After his arrest, Gillespie attempted to discard one of the guns stolen from America's Second Amendment Firearms in the back of a police car.

U.S. District Senior Judge Linda Reade sentenced Gillespie to 131 months in prison. Reynolds was sentenced to 121 months. Both Gillespie and Reynolds were ordered to pay $12,997 in restitution to the two businesses.

Reade also ordered them to serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms.

Gillespie and Reynolds remain U.S. Marshal's Service custody until they can be taken to a federal prison.

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