Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Four men face charges for stealing 70 firearms from a Lindon business.
- Edgar Cortez-Mesa, Alec Jesse Jones, Carlos Andres Raimondi-Perez and David Edward Boettcher were charged.
- Investigators used surveillance video and phone data to identify one of the men.
LINDON — Four men accused of participating in the theft of 70 firearms from a Lindon business are now facing numerous charges.
Edgar Cortez-Mesa, 35, of American Fork, was charged Thursday in 2nd District Court with 21 counts of theft of a firearm, a second-degree felony; burglary, a third-degree felony; drug possession, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.
Alec Jesse Jones, 36, of Orem, was charged with 20 counts of theft of a firearm, a second-degree felony; three counts of drug possession, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.
Carlos Andres Raimondi-Perez, 44, was charged with eight counts of theft of a firearm, a second-degree felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.
David Edward Boettcher, 56, of Lindon, was charged with gun theft, a second-degree felony; and burglary, a third-degree felony.
On Dec. 28, investigators believe Cortez-Mesa broke into Premier Firearms at 55 S. Geneva Road and took 70 firearms and a truck, according to charging documents. The stolen Dodge Ram with a flatbed was found two days later in Pleasant Grove.
Surveillance video from a nearby gas station and cellphone data led investigators from the Lindon Police Department, Utah County Major Crimes Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to Cotez-Mesa as a possible suspect, and they went to his American Fork residence on Jan. 2, the charges state. There, they found Cortez-Mesa and Reaimondi-Perez loading up a Ford truck.
"Inside the Ford truck, which belonged to Raimondi, officers found two of the stolen firearms. Six more of the stolen firearms were inside Raimondi's house, where Cortez had also been recently staying," according to the charges.
As detectives were searching the property, Jones drove up in a Toyota SUV with an enclosed trailer.
"Inside the trailer were three trash cans that had been stolen during the burglary, and they held 60 firearms. Jones was also searched and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and a methamphetamine pipe," the charges state.
While checking Jones' phone, police discovered 52 calls to Boettcher.
When questioned by law enforcers. "Boettcher admitted to being a lookout for Cortez at the burglarized business and assisting Cortez in unloading the stolen property from the stolen vehicle. Boettcher also admitted Cortez had given him a firearm and told him he did a good job after the burglary," according to the charges.
Prosecutors have requested each man be held in the Utah County Jail without the possibility of posting bail pending trial.
