The St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations is an investigative team comprised of Detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police, Leonardtown Barrack. The unit was established on July 1, 2003 and is based in Leonardtown, Maryland.
In 2010, Det./Cpl. D. Alexander from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations initiated an investigation regarding the illegal possession and transfer of handguns and other stolen property at Gloria’s Pawn Shop located in Lexington Park, Maryland. During the investigation several covert visits were conducted at the business to identify items being pawned which were not reported to the Regional Automated Property Information Database (RAPID) as required by law. Through the investigation detectives were able to determine the pawn shop was receiving items including stolen firearms which without the benefit of RAPID would not have been uncovered.
In February, 2011 search and seizure warrants were executed at the business and the residence of the owner of Gloria’s Pawn Shop. Stolen guns, jewelry, gold coins and various power tools valued at over $20,000 were recovered. The coins, jewelry and tools had not been reported to RAPID.
On May 9, 2011 the case was presented to a St. Mary’s County Grand Jury resulting in charges of Theft Less than $1,000, Possess of Regulated Firearm, Illegal Transfer of Firearm and Theft $1,000 – $10,000. Stephen Henry McGee, 64, of Valley Lee, Maryland, the owner of Gloria’s Pawn Shop, was arrested and incarcerated in the St. Mary’s County Detention Center under no bond.
