Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jeremy Rusher, age 39 of Seligman, Missouri and Cory Rusher, age 29 of Jane, Missouri, were sentenced on one count each of Aiding and Abetting the Theft of Firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee. Jeremy Rusher was sentenced to120 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,650 fine. Cory Rusher was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $2,650 fine. The defendants were ordered to pay $1,250 restitution jointly and severally. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, on July 11, 2016, officers with the Pea Ridge Police Department responded to a reported burglary of a business that is a registered Federal Firearms Licensee. The manager of the business was able to provide surveillance of the break-in to officers who were able to get a clear description of Cory Rusher taking five firearms from the business. The surveillance footage from earlier in the day showed Cory Rusher, Jeremy Rusher and a female walking around and looking in the store for an extended period of time. They pawned an item while in the store, and Cory was seen wearing the same shirt he was wearing during the burglary. On July 13, investigators located Jeremy Rusher inside of a trailer and made contact with him. Officers observed two firearms inside the trailer that matched the description of and were later confirmed to be two of the firearms stolen in the burglary. After being advised of and waiving his Miranda rights, Jeremy Rusher admitted to knowing about the stolen guns. Multiple witnesses, including Cory Rusher confirmed his assistance during the burglary. Cory was also located, and after being advised of and waiving his Miranda rights, admitted to being involved in the burglary and assisted officers in locating the remainder of the stolen guns.
Jeremy and Cory Rusher were each named in a federal indictment in August, 2016, and each pleaded guilty in October, 2016.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of firearms and improving the safety of residents in the Western District of Arkansas. Participants in the initiative include federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pea Ridge Police Department, United States Marshal Service, and the Joplin, Missouri SWAT Team. Assistant United States Attorney’s David Harris and Denis Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.
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