A federal judge in St. Paul sentenced a 31-year-old man to more than five years in prison Friday for taking part in the thefts of 19 firearms from Twin Cities gun shops last year.
Early on March 29, 2020, Raymond Kidd and another man smashed the windows of Total Defense in Ramsey and made off with nine handguns, authorities said. The two men repeated the smash-and-grab at Edina's Battle Creek Armory a week later, this time taking 10 handguns.
Kidd signed an agreement with prosecutors pleading guilty to one count of possessions of stolen handguns.
Michael Blande Moore also pleaded guilty last year to taking part in stealing the guns. He will be sentenced in June.
Last year, communities around the Twin Cities saw a rise in gun violence. As the shootings continue, law enforcement faces increased pressure to get illegal guns off the streets.
ANDY MANNIX
