National Guardsman Sentenced To Prison Time For Stealing, Selling Machine Guns

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A Stockton man has been sentenced to prison time for stealing a machine gun then selling it, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Stephen Gooden, 40, was a member of the California National Guard when he stole two M4 machine guns from the National Guard armory in Lodi, according to court documents. Gooden, who carried out the thefts with 28-year-old Sacramento resident Luis Castro, then sold the guns to Stockton.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were able to recover the guns later during an undercover operation.

Gooden was convicted for the thefts and has been sentenced to a year in prison, as well as a $1,000 fine. The sentencing came down Thursday, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner's Office said.

Castro – also a member of the National Guard at the time of the thefts – was sentenced back in February to 20 months in prison.