A suspected burglar’s boast of getting “poled up” — slang for arming with guns — was one of many texts federal agents used to collar him in one of a rash of smash-and-grab gun shop burglaries across the Denver metro area.
Viet Trinh, 18, was charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Denver with theft from the inventory of a federal firearms licensee. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to federal charges.
The arrest affidavit filed by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provides a chilling glimpse of a growing trend in which criminals use stolen vehicles to smash into gun stores to arm themselves.
Trinh was caught after sending numerous cellphone selfies of himself armed with stolen guns to friends. In the messages, he mentioned the possibility of killing people, including police officers.
An informant who worked with ATF agents witnessed Trinh, Chris Padilla Sr., Chris Padilla Jr., Jay Martinez and Nathaniel “Nate” Aragon climb into a white Honda Civic and a grey Honda hatchback late on Nov. 9 at the Padilla home at 1349 King St.
A security camera at a Thornton gun shop called Shooter Ready, 625 E. 70th Ave., captured a group of masked at 4:21 a.m. Nov. 10 as people pulled up in a white sedan and a grey coupe.
The four thieves, each also wearing hooded sweatshirts and gloves, usedpar a rock to bash the front window. The thieves then entered the store and smashed glass gun display cases and snatched 25 guns, the affidavit says.
Trinh later texted the informant to return to the Padilla home because the thieves had the guns, the affidavit says.
When the informant arrived, the suspects told him they “hit a store.” There were about 10 guns, which were divvied up. Everyone got about three guns.
At the time, Trinh had a Facebook page under the alias “Kyle Zimmerman.” He posted a picture of himself wearing a white and black glove, showing he was savvy enough to know he could leave fingerprints at the store.
ATF agents put 1349 King St. under surveillance on Jan. 13, court records indicate. Agents saw Chris Padilla Jr. leave the home and get into a car with several other people. ATF agents followed the vehicle to 1121 Rowena St. in Thornton.
There was an active warrant for Padilla Jr.’s arrest at the time. When Thornton police arrived, four people including Padilla Jr., a juvenile, took off running. They ran through a back yard before police arrested them.
Padilla Jr. had one round from a 9mm handgun in his pants pocket. He was carrying a backpack containing a black ski mask, a pair of gloves and 12 rounds of .40-caliber ammunition in a back pack. Police found a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber gun that had been stolen from Shooter Ready in the backyard.
At the same time, police also arrested Chase Scheumert, who was carrying two guns that had been stolen on Jan. 8 from South Platte Tactical, a Brighton gun shop.
When ATF agents searched the Padilla home on King Street, they found two guns including a Anderson Arms .223-caliber rifle. The rifle had been stolen from South Platte Tactical.
The informant said Padilla Sr. was trying to sell a rifle before going to jail that he kept locked in a closet. In that closet, ATF agents found a 44-40-caliber rifle that had been stolen from Parker Arms, a Wheat Ridge gun shop that had been burglarized on Dec. 17.
Trinh’s Facebook page also proved to be an investigative treasure trove for criminal behavior including car thefts and illegal gun dealing dating back to Oct. 10.
On Nov. 11, Trinh messaged friends asking: “Know anyone that wants to buy a baby .40? $300.”
On Dec. 20, he wrote “I got my 9″ wit (sic) full clips. Mixed with poison hallows, regular hallows and strait meadle (sic) jackets.” When asked by text where he got the weapon, Trinh allegedly texted: “A yistol (sic) shop.”
Chris Padilla Jr. wrote Nov. 13 on his Facebook page: “Glizzy gang boi…I got the glizzy…9 & 40.”
Court records indicate 10 9mm pistols and five .40-caliber pistols were stolen from Shooter Ready.
On Nov. 27, Padilla Jr. used Facebook to try to sell a 9mm pistol for $350.
Padilla Jr. and Trinh also allegedly wrote message that included information about the Parker Arms burglary in which four rifles were stolen. The messages included several “gang” references.
ATF agents arrested Trinh on Aug. 16. During an interview with agents, Trinh admitted that the Kyle Zimmerman Facebook page was his. He didn’t want to talk about the Shooter Ready burglary because he didn’t want to be a snitch, agents said.
But he later told them about the night of Nov. 10. He and four or five others were driving when they saw the gun shop and “decided to burglarize the business.” Trinh said he didn’t enter the store because he was the “getaway driver.” He said he sold one of the guns he got for $375, the court records say.
He also admitted driving a stolen vehicle when he and three others stole four rifles from Parker Arms. Then he told the federal agents he wasn’t going to say anything more.
“‘I feel like I’m snitchin’ on myself.'”
