A St. Francois County man, identified as Gregory Snyder, has been sentenced to a term of 77 months in prison for stealing firearms and various other items from a Potosi, Missouri farm and home store. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey issued the sentence and also mandated Snyder to pay restitution amounting to $11,484, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
The 46-year-old executed the burglary on the night of September 19, 2021, after concealing himself within the store until after it closed. His haul included 13 guns; which consisted of eight rifles and five shotguns, in addition to power tools and camping gear. After loading these stolen goods into his car, Snyder concealed them near a river in eastern Washington County before attempting to return, but police had already caught onto the burglary by then. Snyder, was without the stolen items in his vehicle when he was initially stopped by the Potosi Police Department officers, but was arrested later that day.
His plea in August to theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and possession of body armor by a violent felon was entered in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. The case brought to light by the collaborative efforts of the Potosi Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj leading the prosecution. Though Snyder is now facing consequences for his actions, only two of the stolen shotguns have been recovered. Authorities continue to seek information on the remaining firearms. Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact the ATF at 314-768-3120 or online, as well as the Potosi Police at 573-438-5468 with any tips.
This case is a part of the larger initiative, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), committed to reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice escalated its violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, underlining the importance of fostering trust and legitimacy within communities, providing support to organizations focused on violence prevention, establishing strategic enforcement priorities, and ensuring measurable results.
