A Cape Girardeau resident, Danaje Raymond Webster, has admitted to his involvement in the theft of a firearm from a gun store in Cape Girardeau County. On Tuesday, Webster, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of stealing a firearm from a licensed dealer.
Webster’s co-defendant, Dayvion Jyraud Parker, 21, had previously pleaded guilty in October 2024 to multiple charges: stealing a firearm from a licensed dealer, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a machine gun.
The incident occurred on June 17, 2024. Both men confessed to stealing a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from the federally licensed store. According to court documents, Webster removed the pistol from display and handed it to Parker. Initially concealed under Parker’s jacket, the weapon was later hidden between Parker’s back and his wheelchair by Webster. After purchasing another pistol and ammunition, both left the premises.
The theft was discovered when store employees reviewed surveillance footage following the disappearance of the pistol. On June 25, law enforcement executed a court-approved search at a residence in Cape Girardeau where they found Parker—a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms—lying with two pistols equipped with auto sears making them fully automatic.
Webster is set for sentencing on September 30 and faces up to five years imprisonment for the theft charge. Meanwhile, Parker received a sentence of 70 months in March.
The case was investigated by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched by the Department on May 26, 2021, PSN emphasizes trust-building within communities, support for violence-prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement.
