South Side man to face federal charges

A second defendant had
possession of a gun stolen from Miller Rod & Gun.

YOUNGSTOWN — A complaint filed in federal court accuses a South Side man of stealing $1,500 from an undercover informant sent to buy guns and drugs.

An affidavit filed by an agent with the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives states that Kevin Crockett used force to steal government property — the $1,500 — on April 12, 2007, at 344 W. Judson Ave.

Court records show Crockett, 20, of West Judson, made his initial appearance last Friday in federal court and was released on $25,000 unsecured bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge George J. Limbert.

The ATF agent’s affidavit states that the informant encountered Anthony D. Bonner upon entering the house on Judson and learned that Crockett would be there shortly. Bonner, the government said, told the informant that Crockett “had many nice firearms” for sale and the discussion then turned to the sale of crack cocaine.

Once Crockett arrived, he and Bonner, who had a gun, told the ATF informant to empty his pockets, the government said. Crockett is accused of taking the $1,500 and handing it to Bonner.

The informant said he left and ran toward Hillman Street, seeing Crockett and Bonner drive away as he ran.

In June 2007, a federal grand jury indicted Bonner, 26, of LaBelle Avenue, on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and using force to steal government property, the $1,500. He reached a plea agreement with the government Jan. 4 and pleaded guilty. Sentencing is set for March 20 in Cleveland.

At the time of the theft of cash from the ATF informant, Crockett was on probation in a receiving-stolen-property case, records show. The one-year probation was handed down in November 2006.

In May 2007, a loaded 9 mm handgun stolen from Miller Rod & Gun in Boardman turned up inside Bonner’s LaBelle Avenue home when police went there to arrest him on a parole violation.

The gun shop on Youngstown-Poland Road had 42 firearms stolen during two break-ins in May 2007. In both events, the front door was pried open in the early morning.

The ATF has declined to say how many stolen guns surfaced.