BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — A man received a 15-year federal prison sentence after he and his brother forcibly kidnapped the manager of a local sporting goods shop and orchestrated the theft of 123 firearms. The incident took place last November, when the Dunham’s Sports manager was handcuffed and blindfolded outside his residence. He was compelled to disclose the security alarm code for the store, which is located near Benton Harbor, approximately 100 miles east of Chicago.

According to authorities, Darnell Bishop entered the establishment and loaded the stolen handguns into coolers, while his brother, Dontrell Nance, remained in a vehicle with the captive manager. The handguns, valued at over $100,000, were later recovered by law enforcement.

U.S. Attorney Mark Totten commented on the severity of the crime, stating that had Bishop’s plot succeeded, it would have resulted in a significant influx of illegal firearms into the streets of southwest Michigan.

In a court document, Bishop’s attorney noted that their client was experiencing significant personal issues at the time of the crime, including marital difficulties, job loss, and the repossession of his truck. Helen Nieuwenhuis, the attorney, expressed that amidst all this pressure, Bishop regrettably chose not to seek help or support to address his mounting problems.

Nance, who was involved in the scheme, received his own 15-year prison sentence in July of this year.