Peoria man pleads guilty to stealing guns from Bloomington store in 2021

Posted on March 10, 2022
Court judge
Edwards-Melton faces up to 10-years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a maximum of three-year terms of supervised release for each count. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – A Peoria man pled guilty in federal court on Thursday to charges accusing him of stealing guns from a Bloomington store in December of last year.

In court on Thursday, DaJuan Edwards-Melton, 20, of the 2100 block of W Antoinette Street, pleaded guilty to burglary of a federally licensed firearms dealer and possessions of stolen firearms.

During the hearing, investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives agents detailed how they linked Edwards-Melton to the crime.

Investigators say after Edwards-Melton stole guns from Smiley’s Sport Shop on Dec. 12, 2021, investigators found two of the gun tags in a yard off an alley in the 22 block of N. University Street.

A further investigaton found Edwards-Melton in possession of a 9mm pistol during a traffic stop in Peoria.

Prosecutors say the gun found in the car was identified as one of the 25 guns stolen from Smiley’s Sports Shop.

According to court documents, Edwards-Melton was assisted by two juvenile males who entered the store with him to commit the burglary, as well as a juvenile female who acted as a getaway driver.

Edwards-Melton remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, pending sentencing.

Edwards-Melton faces up to 10-years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a maximum of three-year terms of supervised release for each count.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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