PHILADELPHIA, PA — United States Attorney David Metcalf announced on Tuesday, May 6, that Ismael Terrero-Terrero, 22, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison and ordered to pay $26,798 in restitution for a series of gun shop burglaries that resulted in the theft of more than 150 firearms. United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage handed down the sentence.
Terrero-Terrero pleaded guilty in January 2024 to three counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. These charges stem from burglaries at three licensed firearms dealers across Pennsylvania in 2023.
Details of the Crimes
The first incident occurred on April 28, 2023, at an FFL in Easton, Pennsylvania. Surveillance footage captured Terrero-Terrero using a pry bar to gain entry, stealing 29 firearms, including AK- and AR-style weapons. Two months later, on June 29, he and an accomplice broke into another licensed dealer in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, stealing 44 firearms. Finally, in the early hours of August 11, Terrero-Terrero targeted an FFL in Telford, Pennsylvania, where he and another man looted 82 firearms before fleeing in a vehicle.
Law enforcement, supported by video evidence, connected the defendant to all three burglaries. Federal and local authorities documented that many of the stolen guns have since been linked to crimes across multiple states and even internationally in the Caribbean.
Community and Law Enforcement Reaction
“These guns have now found their way into our communities and are being recovered in shootings and other crimes from Connecticut to the Caribbean,” U.S. Attorney Metcalf stated. “Terrero-Terrero was actively putting guns in criminals’ hands, and the repercussions will continue, at society’s expense. Public safety demands that we prevent offenders from getting their hands on guns — and punish those providing a steady stream of illegal weapons.”
Special Agent Eric DeGree of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division emphasized the danger posed to communities by stolen firearms. “Stolen guns are crime guns that endanger our communities,” said DeGree. He commended the work of federal, state, and local law enforcement in dismantling the operation.
Broader Implications
This case highlights the importance of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to reduce gun violence. The theft and illegal circulation of firearms fuel violent crimes, placing a significant burden on public safety efforts. Launched in 2021, PSN focuses on fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention, and implementing strategic enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maureen McCartney.
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