Randall Levine speaks with WZZM 13 about the legal process of gun cases after two men charged in Kalamazoo gun store thefts
Markou Montague Levine Defense Criminal Defense Attorney Randall Levine spoke with WZZM 13 about the legal process of gun cases after two men face federal charges for using a Kalamazoo gun store’s credit system to steal firearms.
“The federal government, especially in Western Michigan, looks at gun cases hard,” Levine said in his interview with WZZM 13. “They are prosecuted vigorously – the concern is the safety of the community.”
Brandon Wilder has signed a plea agreement to plead guilty to unlawfully taking firearms from a federally licensed dealer. Brandon Wright faces a separate four-count indictment that includes firearm theft.
“Plea agreements are commonplace, especially in the federal system,” Levine said. “Whenever guns are involved, your radar goes up to make sure you try to do what you can to offer whatever defense is available.
“If you risk a trial and are convicted, generally speaking, the result is going to be much, much more difficult for your client,” Levine added.
Wilder’s agreement describes a scheme spanning from May 2023 to November 2025. The store, identified only as “Business 1” in court documents, allowed employees to issue store credit in exchange for gun parts and other merchandise.
Wilder and two people identified as just “Person 1” and “Person 2” awarded one another credit that exceeded the merchandise’s actual value, according to the agreement. Sometimes, there was no merchandise at all.
Wilder then allegedly used the fraudulent credit to obtain guns and take them home. His agreement identifies seven specific stolen firearms, including a Colt Python revolver and two Remington shotguns.
Wright’s indictment lists 39 firearms prosecutors accuse him of taking. He also faces charges involving machine guns, silencers without required serial numbers and unregistered explosive projectiles.
“The prosecutor and the defense can agree on a sentence, and then it's up to the judge as to whether or not he wants to go along with that,”Levine said.
Watch the full interview, here.
