Evergreen Reporter

A man from St. Francois County has been sentenced to 77 months in prison for stealing firearms and other items from a farm and home store in Potosi, Missouri. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey handed down the sentence to Gregory Snyder, 46, who was also ordered to pay $11,484 in restitution.

The incident occurred on September 19, 2021, when Snyder hid inside the store until after closing time. He then stole power tools, camping gear, and 13 guns, including eight rifles and five shotguns. Snyder transported some of the stolen goods to a river in eastern Washington County before returning for more items early the next morning. By that time, officers from the Potosi Police Department had discovered evidence of the burglary and questioned Snyder, who no longer had the stolen goods in his vehicle. He was arrested later that day.

Snyder pleaded guilty in August at the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to charges of theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and possession of body armor by a violent felon.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Potosi Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj.

Two shotguns have been recovered so far. Authorities are seeking information about the remaining stolen firearms and urge anyone with information to contact ATF or Potosi Police using provided contact details.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.