Woodlawn Man Exiled to 100 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of Stolen Guns and Ammunition

Sentenced to an Additional 18 Months in Prison for Violating His Supervised Release for a Previous Federal Conviction

Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake, sentenced Nishon Rainner, age 31, of Woodlawn, Maryland, today to 100 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of guns and ammunition. Chief Judge Blake also sentenced Rainner to 18 months in prison, consecutive to the sentence on his gun conviction, for violation of his supervised release on a previous federal conviction.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to the evidence presented at Rainner’s three day trial and other court documents, on March 12, 2015, officers from the Baltimore County Police Department executed a search warrant at Rainner’s rented house in Woodlawn, as part of an investigation by the Baltimore County Regional Auto Theft Task Force into Rainner’s involvement in an organized automobile theft organization.

In the family room on the first floor of the house, police officers recovered a loaded 7.62 caliber AK-47 style semi-automatic rifle and an unloaded 12-gauge tactical shotgun stored together in a plastic bag leaning against the wall; the bag also contained other loose ammunition compatible with the AK-47. Inside a small closet nearby, which housed the water heater, officers located a loaded .40 caliber handgun above the doorframe. The handgun was located next to a sunglass case containing additional ammunition and a Washington, D.C. driver’s license with a picture of Rainner in the name "Gary Simon." All three firearms were operational and none were secured or locked in any way to prevent them from being fired. Police also found a second Washington, D.C. license with a photograph of Rainner in the name of Rodney Nicolas. Further investigation revealed a third false Washington, D.C. driver’s license with Rainner’s picture in the name of Brandon Rucker. It was determined that the information on the false licenses matched that of individuals with those same names who lived in Florida and North Carolina.

During the execution of the search warrant at the Woodlawn house, police officers recovered three stolen cars and found the keys to the stolen cars hanging on a key rack in the main entry of the house.

During the search, officers also found mail with Rainner’s name and the address of the house in Woodlawn, as well as Washington, D.C. traffic citations issued to Gary Simon and correspondence addressed to "Rodney Nicholas," and over $14,000 in cash. Finally, the police officers found a lease for the Woodlawn home, which was signed by Rainner, and a receipt for $10,600, for six-months’ rent, paid in cash. Rainner, his girlfriend, and her children ages 5 and 9, were present in the house at the time of the execution of the warrant, and were listed as the only occupants of the townhome on the lease.

Rainner subsequently agreed to make a statement to the officers. During interviews with police Rainner denied living at the Woodlawn residence. Rainner also told law enforcement that he did not know who owned the guns, nor how they had gotten into the house.

According to witness testimony, the firearms were stolen from their rightful owners. Bank records for Rainner indicated that on the dates two of the guns were stolen he was in the area where the thefts occurred. The third stolen weapon had been stored in the basement of a home where Rainner had previously lived and had stored items in the basement, as well.

Court documents show that Rainner has 16 previous convictions, including the illegal possession of firearms, stolen cars, false identifications, and false statements.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney David P. Kehoe and Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who prosecuted the case.