Seattle – Joey Maillet, the suspect in the Fred’s Guns robbery in Sequim and a similar robbery in Skagit County, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two counts of theft of firearms.
The 39-year-old faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced on May 8.
On April 13 of last year, Maillet used a piece of heavy machinery he stole from Leitz Farm Supply to ram the doors of the store and then broke glass display cases to steal 26 firearms. Maillet cut his arm on the glass case and left blood and fingerprints at that scene. Surveillance video also linked Maillet to the crime.
At All American Armory in the town of Bow, surveillance video showed Maillet used a stolen pick-up truck to back into the doors of the store, where he stole 13 rifles before driving away.
On May 10, 2019, a Ferndale Police Officer encountered Maillet and arrested him on an outstanding warrant for an Everett, Washington, burglary. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators determined items in Maillet’s backpack linked him to the thefts at the Bow gun store.
Only four of the stolen firearms have been recovered. All were found in British Columbia, either at crime scenes or on criminal suspects.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Maillet is to pay restitution to both stores for the damages to the buildings and the value of the guns. He is also responsible for damages to Leitz Farm Supply and the business from which he stole the truck.
Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of no more than 6 years in prison. However, the ultimate sentence is up to the judge and could be up to the statutory maximum of 10 years.
(Staff photo of Maillet and defense attorney Harry Gasnick.)