3 Bay Area felons arrested after dozens of guns stolen from Placer County gun store
PLACER COUNTY – Three convicted felons from the Bay Area were arrested on Tuesday after more than 70 guns were stolen from a firearms store in Placer County just over two weeks ago, deputies said Wednesday.
"For the Foothill Firearms family this has been a very emotional and trying experience that has affected our employees and friends as well as our business," said Jaimie Kuntz, co-owner of the store. "We are so thankful for the dedication and hard work of the Placer County Sheriff's Office, DOJ and the ATF who helped to catch these criminals."
Starting just after 1:15 a.m. on July 22, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said a suspect used power-cutting tools to cut a hole in the side of the Foothill Firearms building in Newcastle.
Once the suspect made it inside the businesses, deputies say he then loaded duffel bags with 73 handguns.
Surveillance video from a nearby business shows the suspect getting picked up in a light-colored sedan and heading toward Interstate 80.
Sometime over the past two weeks, detectives identified 39-year-old Tyrone Brennen of San Rafael as the suspect who cut the hole in the business, deputies said. They then identified 41-year-old Loren Bingham of Vallejo as his accomplice, saying Bingham is believed to "have served as the lookout and getaway driver."
A no-bail warrant was issued for Brennen and authorities served the warrants in San Rafael and Vallejo on Tuesday, where they arrested Brennen and Bingham.
Deputies said Brennen had two firearms that were reported stolen during the burglary, large cutting tools and other items from Foothill Firearms. They said he has a long history of committing commercial burglaries throughout California by cutting holes in the side of businesses.
"Unfortunately these three suspects are just another example of failed criminal justice reform in the state of California. They are career criminals with gang affiliation. And they have convictions for other similar types of conduct as this," said Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo on Wednesday.
Bingham is a known Norteno gang member, deputies said, and had "specific items" tied to his involvement in the burglary, but didn't say what those times were. Deputies added he also had a shotgun and ammunition, as well as prior felony convictions for possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of stolen property and vehicle theft.
Bingham also had felony warrants for his arrest out of Solano County, including for robbery.
Deputies identified 57-year-old Richard Nosenzo of Vallejo as the third suspect. They said Nosenzo was found in possession of one of the guns stolen from Foothill Firearms. Nosenzo has a 1995 conviction for escaping from jail, three convictions for vehicle theft, passing false checks, grand theft of a firearm, burglary and possession of stolen property.
The three suspects have all been booked into the Placer County Jail.
Brennen is being held on a bail warrant.
Bingham is being held on charges of grand theft firearm and numerous other charges. His bail is set at $100,000 but also has $330,000 in warrants out of Solano County.
Nosenzo is being held on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property. His bail is set at $435,0000.
Though these suspects are all facing serious felonies, Sheriff Woo points to a push from many law enforcement agencies and lawmakers statewide to reform Proposition 47, a voter-backed measure passed in 2014 that reduced many felony crimes down to misdemeanors with the intention of reducing prison overcrowding on non-violent crimes. Critics say it has resulted in an increase in crime statewide over the past decade.
"While we have recovered some of these handguns the majority are still out in our communities. And unfortunately, due to the changes in Proposition 47, people that are caught knowingly in possession of stolen firearms are only going to be guilty of a misdemeanor," Woo said.
Kuntz echoed the Sheriff's sentiment calling for reform.
"Something has to change in California, instead of gun laws on law-abiding citizens. There needs to be more focus on charges as well as follow through for the criminals that commit the crimes. Criminal reform is a joke. These career criminals should have never been allowed to walk among us law-abiding citizens," Kuntz said.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is working with Placer County deputies to see if there is any connection between this case and a smash-and-grab that happened at an Orangevale gun store a day later where at least 25 guns were stolen.