Two Rockford men charged with stealing firearms from licensed firearms dealers

Two Rockford area men were charged by a federal grand jury last week on firearms offenses. Kyland Willis, 20, and Martaevien Q. Stevenson, 20, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a licensed firearms dealer and to possess stolen firearms, one count of stealing firearms from a licensed firearms dealer, and one count of possessing stolen firearms. The indictment alleges that, on Jan. 3, 2018, Willis, Stevenson, and a third individu-al broke into the store of a firearms licensee in Belvidere, Ill., and stole approximately 29 fire-arms. The indictment further alleges that Willis, Stevenson, and a third individual attempted to break into the firearms licensee’s store again on Jan. 8 and Jan. 10, 2018.
Willis was also charged in a separate case with one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a licensed firearms dealer and to possess stolen firearms, two counts of stealing firearms from the licensed firearms dealer, and two counts of possessing stolen firearms. The indictment in that case alleges that, on Dec. 15, 2017, Willis broke into the store of a firearms licensee in Loves Park, Ill., and stole approximately 11 firearms. The indictment alleges that, on Dec. 27, 2017, Willis and another individual broke into the store of the same firearms licensee again and stole an additional 13 firearms. The indictment further alleges that Willis and the other individual also attempted to break into the store of another firearms licensee in Loves Park, Ill. on Dec. 26, 2017.