3 charged in gun store heist after posing with stolen weapons on social media

Three men allegedly used a stolen Jeep last summer to crash through the storefront of a licensed firearms dealer then made away with a cache of weapons.

The nine-page indictment by a special grand jury announced Wednesday charged Rashad “Bamboo” Anchando, 22, and Romeo “O-Dog” Blackman, 21, both of Chicago, along with Keith “Punchy” Gullens, 27, of Streator, with conspiring to steal firearms from South Post Guns in Streator.

Court documents and a release from the U.S. attorney’s office allege the trio stole a black Jeep Wrangler on June 21, 2016, then used the vehicle the next day to crash through the storefront of the gun shop, about two hours southwest of Chicago. After smashing displays, the men made away with 20 firearms, mostly handguns, which they then recorded videos of themselves with and posted on social media.

Chicago ABC affiliate WLS-TV observed that Anchando and Blackman, in particular, appeared “to be particularly proud of their guns” in photos on their personal Facebook pages.

The stolen guns were a mix of hunting arms, for example, a Thompson Center Contender; collectible pieces, such as a Henry Golden Boy EMS .22LR lever-action rifle; historic guns such as a 1908 Colt; and newer firearms to include a Desert Eagle .50AE pistol and a Sig P226 .40S&W.

Each of the men was charged with conspiracy, which carries a five-year prison term, as well as possession of stolen firearms and burglary of a federally-licensed firearms business, crimes which can bring 10 years. As Blackman and Gullens had serious prior criminal records, they also were indicted for illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

All three are in custody with arraignments scheduled for later this month.

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