LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A Las Vegas felon pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than 200 firearms from a trailer belonging to a Federal Firearms Licensee, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Ray Roundtree for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“Stolen firearms often end up in the hands of dangerous criminals to be used in violent crimes," said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “The quick work of our dedicated agents and officers stopped more than 200 stolen guns from flooding our communities. Their quick work undoubtedly saved lives."
Samual Lane Donesing, 29, of Las Vegas, was indicted in August 2018, with one count of possession of stolen firearms and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He has three prior felony convictions in Clark County including forgery, possession of a stolen vehicle, and grand larceny. Donesing pleaded guilty without the benefit of a plea agreement before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II.
According to court documents and Donesing’s in-court admissions, on July 31, 2018, he stole a truck and trailer belonging to a Federal Firearms Licensee parked at the Fiesta Henderson Casino. The trailer contained over 200 firearms along with ammunition and firearms accessories such as holsters and magazines. Donesing and co-defendant Jaemillah Eagans drove the trailer to Donesing’s home and unloaded the firearms into the residence. Hotel surveillance footage showed Donesing and Eagans driving away with the stolen truck, and law enforcement soon identified the defendants as suspects.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 16, 2020. Donesing faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
Eagans, 27, awaits a jury trial set on Jan. 27, 2020. Eagans is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Henderson Police Department and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Mott is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
