A Cape Girardeau man has confessed to participating in the theft of a firearm from a gun store in Cape Girardeau County. Danaje Raymond Webster, 24, admitted his involvement on Tuesday at the U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau. He pleaded guilty to one count of stealing a firearm from a licensed dealer.
Webster's co-defendant, Dayvion Jyraud Parker, 21, had already pleaded guilty in October 2024 to multiple felonies including stealing a firearm from a licensed dealer and two counts each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.
The incident took place on June 17, 2024, when both men stole a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from the federally licensed dealer. According to court documents, Webster removed the pistol from display and passed it to Parker who initially concealed it under his jacket. Subsequently, Parker handed the weapon back to Webster who hid it between Parker’s back and his wheelchair. They later left the store after purchasing another pistol and ammunition.
The theft was discovered by store employees through surveillance footage. On June 25, law enforcement officers found Parker during a search of his home with two pistols that were modified with auto sears to be fully automatic.
Webster is due for sentencing on September 30 and faces up to five years in prison for the theft charge. Meanwhile, Parker received a sentence of 70 months imprisonment this March.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is handling prosecution duties.
This case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration among law enforcement levels and community groups.
