KC men sentenced in theft of guns from vehicles near Westport: Federal prosecutors
Two Kansas City men have been sentenced in federal court in the theft of more than 100 guns from cars across the city, particularly in the Westport entertainment district, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Rayquan Pettaway, 25, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of illegal possession of a firearm, as well as to his role in the conspiracy to steal, sell and distribute stolen guns. Roy Rushing, 27, pleaded guilty to possessing stolen firearms in July 2023.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Greg Kays sentenced Pettaway to 11 years, eight months in federal prison, while Rushing was sentenced to nine years, two months, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri.
Both sentences will be served consecutively with additional charges pending against both defendants, who are are involved in cases in Cass County, according to court records.
Two other co-defendants — Drevion Hooker and Bobby Lamb, both 22 — have already been sentenced. Hooker was sentenced in September to seven years and one month in federal prison and Lamb was sentenced in July to 11 years.
Bloodsoe, also 22, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty in October 2023 and will be sentenced Thursday, according to the news release.
According to documents filed in federal court, Pettaway admitted that he and his four co-defendants would break into parked cars in and around Westport, steal weapons and resell them on social media, including to people banned by law from owning a gun. Prosecutors contend the group of five stole more than 100 weapons from cars between June 18 and Nov. 19, 2021.
Pettaway and Hooker were arrested on July 11, 2021, after several Kansas City police officers attempted to corner them on a Westport street, according to court documents. Hooker was arrested on site, while Pettaway led police on a car chase in a silver Chevrolet Impala and was arrested after damaging the Impala.
Two guns were found in the car after Pettaway’s arrest, according to court documents. An additional seven guns, three of which had been reported stolen, were found in a search of Rushing’s house in November 2021.
Rushing also has robbery and armed criminal action charges pending in Jackson County, court records show, while Pettaway is facing additional charges out of Harris County, Texas.
All five defendants are also liable together to pay $1,500 in restitution.
Just over half of guns stolen nationwide in 2022 were taken from cars, according to the most recent full year of data from Everytown for Gun Safety.
In Kansas City, guns were stolen from cars that year at the rate of 151.6 weapons per 100,000 people, according to Everytown data.
This story was originally published October 2, 2024 at 6:39 PM.
