Pittsburgh man guilty of helping 3 brothers flee botched gun shop burglaries

A Pittsburgh man has pleaded guilty to aiding three brothers in back-to-back botched attempts to steal firearms from gun shops in Pittsburgh’s western and southern suburbs, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman said Thursday.

Haliston Este, 28, was convicted of one count of conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer after entering his guilty plea in federal court on Tuesday.

Este faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Also facing five-year prison terms are three brothers in their early 20s who participated in the burglary attempts.

The sibling co-defendants — Jerwahn Atkins, 24; Jerquay Atkins, 23; and Jamir Atkins, 22 — each pleaded guilty to conspiracy against a federal firearm licensee in April.

RELATED: 3 brothers plead guilty to botched gun shop burglaries in Bethel Park, Moon Township

All of the convictions stem from the night of May 30 of last year.

Este assisted the Atkins brothers as they first tried stealing from Allegheny Arms and Gun Works in Bethel Park, according to prosecutors and the guilty pleas signed by the defendants.

They used a crowbar to get inside, triggering a burglary alarm, records show. The alarm prompted the men to run from the store.

Este, Jamir Atkins and Jerwhan Atkins then drove to the National Armory in Moon Township.

Again, they used a crowbar to break into the federal gun licensee, and again, they set off the alarm — “causing the two brothers to flee once more,” prosecutors said.

The Atkins brothers are being held in federal custody until their sentencing hearings, which are scheduled for late August.

Este was released on bond pending his sentencing scheduled for Nov. 23.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted the cases against all four defendants with help from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. commonly referred to as the ATF.