Westerville man received firearms from robbery
A third man connected with the March armed robbery of a Northeast Side pawn shop pleaded guilty in federal court Monday for his involvement in the crime.
Jordan Mcclendon, 21, of Westerville, admitted to felony counts of accessory after the fact, possession of a stolen firearm and illegal receipt of a firearm of a person under indictment. The most serious of the charges carry potential sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. will decide a final sentence at a later date.
According to court documents, Mcclendon received firearms from Deonte Peoples, 19, of the Northeast Side, and Demetrius Braxton, 23, formerly of Whitehall, that were stolen in March from Lev’s Pawn Shop, 2600 Morse Road.
Peoples and Braxton, wearing face masks and carrying guns, robbed the business of firearms, jewelry and money, then met up with Mcclendon shortly afterward at a nearby home. Mcclendon, who was already facing separate firearms-related charges in Franklin County, took some of the stolen firearms and attempted to sell at least one of them, court documents state.
Officers quickly traced the suspects to a Ferris Park Drive South residence. When police arrived, all three men attempted to flee the scene, throwing a suitcase with stolen goods over a backyard fence in the process, court documents state. A subsequent search of the home uncovered other stolen items and evidence.
Peoples and Braxton pleaded guilty earlier this year to counts of interference with commerce by robbery and using a firearm as part of a crime of violence. Mcclendon formally admitted his involvement Monday before Judge Sargus.
As part of his plea deal with prosecutors, Mcclendon agreed to forfeit more than two dozen firearms and associated ammunition, $1,421 in cash, 211 pieces of jewelry, and any claims on additional guns recovered during the investigation. mkovac@dispatch.com @Ohiocapitalblog