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Police: 4 arrested in connection with the burglary of a gun store Colonie | News
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Police: 4 arrested in connection with the burglary of a gun store Colonie | News

Paul F. Gervasio, 37, of New Lebanon, and Willie N. Moses, 48, of Albany, face charges of first- and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as third-degree burglary , the third degree. theft, criminal possession of a firearm and third-degree criminal mischief, all felonies.

Nicole M. January, 43, of Latham, is currently charged with misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and fifth-degree criminal possession of a stolen weapon. She also has pending charges of second-degree hindering prosecution, a felony, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Dante M. Chisholm, 50, of Troy, was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a stolen weapon, a misdemeanor.

During a news conference Thursday morning, Colonie Police Chief James J. Gerace laid out the timeline of events that began last Thursday.

Gerace claims a man, later identified as Moses, entered New York Shooter Supply around 2 a.m. on Nov. 14 through a hole he created in the store’s bathroom in a hallway just behind the store . The store is located in a connected plaza with eight other storefronts.

Surveillance released at the press conference shows an individual take a box of guns from the store and disappear into what police said was a bathroom.

At the time of the break-in, police said someone was on the phone with dispatchers who relayed what they saw on video.

Another surveillance video shared by police shows the man walking across the property of a nearby US gas station with a box and at one point dropping and picking up what police said was one of the guns.

Gerace claims Moses then got into a vehicle that police said was driven by Gervasio. With the help of Goldstein Subaru, police said they identified the car as a 2014 Subaru Forester dating back to January.

He was eventually located at the Parkside Apartments in North Colonie, and police said surveillance footage shows Gervasio entering the car in the early morning hours on the day of the burglary.

After obtaining a search warrant for the apartment, police said they found the clothing Moses was allegedly wearing when he entered the gun store with rock dust on it.

Police said increased surveillance put Moses and Gervasio together at the Room to Spare Storage Shed on Wade Road, where it was determined Gervasio rented a unit.

During the search of the facility, police found seven guns, including a Ruger wrangler .22LR, a Ruger SP101 9mm, a Heritage MFG .22 cal, a Taurus TX .22 cal, a Sig Sauer P365 (Rose) 9mm, a Sig 9mm Sauer P365 and a 9mm Taurus G3C.

Police said they did not find any of the guns left in the apartment, but they did find other stolen items, which led to the arrest of Chisholm, who was near them. The items included other guns, bag tags, a gun display stand and a shoulder strap.

“We’re still investigating his role or knowledge,” Gerace said.

Gerace said his officer also described the apartment as “deplorable” and said he allegedly found meth in the area where two juveniles were, leading to January’s arrest. Police also said they believe January “provided material support and warnings to Gervasio that the Colonia Police Department sought his arrest and capture.”

Gerace also noted during the press conference that Moses is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to second-degree attempted burglary in another case.

Police have yet to locate the other seven firearms, which include two Glock 9mm, a Shadow Systems 9mm, a FN 9mm, a Rost Martin 9mm, a Glock .45 and a Glock .40.

“Right now, we’re focused on trying to find the remaining seven firearms that are still available and that pose a threat to our community,” he said.

Police said anyone with information about the missing firearms should contact the Colonie Police Investigations Division at 518-783-2754.