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Man Who Sold 13 Guns Stolen From Train Gets 10-Year Sentence: Feds

By Tanveer Ali | October 3, 2017 5:37pm

CHICAGO — A south suburban man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a 2015 heist of hundreds of guns from a cargo train parked in Avalon Park, federal authorities said.

Andrew Shelton, 43, of Riverdale pleaded guilty earlier this year to a count of illegal possession of a firearm by a felon and a count of possession of a stolen firearm.

He was part of a group that took 111 guns from a cargo train traveling from a Ruger factory in New Hampshire to Spokane, Wash., according to the U.S. attorney's office.

The train was parked overnight in a Norfolk Southern train yard in Avalon Park.

Shelton took 13 guns and sold them on the black market.

Authorities have found 19 of the 111 firearms throughout the Chicago area including at crime scenes.

“No efforts by law enforcement to stop the senseless killings in this city by keeping guns out of the hands of felons will be successful when there are individuals like the defendant and his codefendants who are willing to profit off of illegal arms trafficking in Chicago,” said Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher V. Parente and Eric Pruitt in a sentencing document.

Earlier this year, ex-Boston Celtics player Nathan Driggers was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted for being part of the theft, according to the U.S. attorney's office and the Tribune.

Warren Gates, a 49-year-old from Chicago, was sentenced to at least five years in prison for his role in the theft and subsequent trafficking.

Lori Shelton, 53, of Englewood faces three years of probation. She told authorities she bought three stolen guns for "protecting" her family, according to the Tribune.

Six others have yet to be sentenced and another defendant, Dandre Moody, is awaiting a December jury trial.