GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Almost four months after Dontrell Nance, 25, pled guilty to kidnapping and brandishing a firearm in connection to kidnapping the store manager of the Dunhams in Benton Harbor in order to steal over 120 guns, his brother, 33-year-old Darnell Bishop, has pled guilty to the crimes as well.
“My office is laser focused on those few individuals driving gun violence in our communities, including active shooters and gun traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Darnell Bishop’s brazen crimes, if successful, would have flooded the streets of Benton Harbor and beyond with illegal firearms. I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift investigative work that put a stop to this criminal scheme.”
Previously, Bishop pled not guilty to kidnapping, interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee.
Now, as part of his plea agreement, Bishop admitted to authorities that he and his brother kidnapped the store manager at gunpoint outside of the store manager's home. He told authorities that they then took the man to a second location before convincing him to provide the alarm code for the store. Once they had the code, Bishop said he went to the store and stole 123 pistols. He stashed the guns into two large coolers and carried them away.
Law enforcement successfully recovered all of the stolen firearms. Both brothers face potential life sentences for their crimes.
“Today's guilty plea confirms that justice has been served, and Mr. Bishop will be held accountable for the heinous crimes committed against the victim and the victim's place of work,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “I commend the investigative efforts and achievements of the FBI's Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force and our local, state, and federal partners for their dedication to this case. Nevertheless, our daily work continues to contribute to the safety of our communities."
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