Instagram photos of stolen guns helped ID theft suspects

BANGOR, Maine - A Waterville man pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and stealing firearms from that dealer.

According to court records, in April 2022, Damiean Marcial-Alexander, 21, and a co-conspirator broke into a Waterville firearms dealer and stole multiple firearms, including a Glock, Model 17 Gen5 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver.

According to an ATF Theft/Loss Report submitted by the store owner, 15 firearms in all were reported stolen, six revolvers and nine semi-automatic pistols. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office, evidence collected included Instagram and text messages planning the theft, including a map to the location from Marcial-Alexander's apartment, as well as photos of the two men holding some of the stolen firearms.

Marcial-Alexander faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Waterville Police Department.