3 More Cheyenne Residents Charged in Downtown Burglaries

Three more Cheyenne residents are facing felony theft charges for their alleged involvement in three residential burglaries, police announced late Friday afternoon.

Police on Dec. 21, 2023, announced they were investigating the burglaries, in which multiple guns and thousands of collectible coins were stolen from three unoccupied houses in the downtown area, and that they had arrested roommates Kenneth Cain, 43, and Desiree Pantoja, 40, after finding "duffle bags full of coins and several stolen firearms" during searches of their residence at 309 Medicine Bow Ave. and their vehicles.

• RELATED: Cheyenne Roommates Accused of Stealing Over $20K in Coins, Guns

"There is additional follow-up work being done in this case," police said.

Get our free mobile app

Through ongoing investigative work, detectives learned that a storage shed in the 1900 block of South Greeley Highway was used by roommates Bailee Martinez, 27, and Michael Townsend, 37, to store stolen property.

On Jan. 4, detectives served a search warrant at the location and their residence at 414 Murray Rd. and recovered numerous silver coins consistent with those reported stolen.

The two were both arrested and subsequently charged with felony theft.

Detectives also learned that a fifth suspect, Timothy Duke, 35, was involved in the burglaries.

According to arrest records, he was arrested on Jan. 4 on an extraditable warrant out of Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as four unrelated felony charges, and arrested again on Jan. 5 for felony theft, after searches of his residence at 5805 Lunsford Dr. and his pickup led to the recovery of numerous stolen items, including gold and silver coins valued at more than $5,000, bags containing thousands of dollars in cash, checks belonging to the victim, antique silver dishware, a handwritten note from the victim, and four school yearbooks belonging to the victim’s mother.

Detectives then learned that Duke frequently used an enclosed trailer parked in the 200 block of South Greeley Highway.

On Jan. 9, a search warrant was served on the trailer, and 29 stolen firearms were recovered along with a box of silver coins valued at more than $1,000.

Additional charges related to the burglary are pending.

Police say the case is still under investigation, and they're asking anyone with information regarding the individuals involved or that leads to the recovery of stolen property to call Crime Stoppers Silent Witness at 307-638-TIPS or visit silentwitnesslaramiecounty.com.

Informants will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Timeline of Events

On Nov. 22, 2023, Cheyenne residents Michael Townsend, 37, and Kenneth Cain, 43, were arrested in Abilene, Texas. During the arrest, a large collection of valuable coins was recovered. Investigators with the Abilene Police Department contacted Cheyenne Police to notify them of the arrest and suspected stolen property.

On Dec. 12, it was reported that three unoccupied houses in the downtown area had been burglarized. According to the victim, several firearms and thousands of collectible coins, valued at more than $250,000 had been stolen from the locations. It was at this point that detectives were able to make a connection between the arrests in Abilene and the burglaries reported in Cheyenne.

On Dec. 20, search warrants were executed for Cain’s residence in the 300 block of Medicine Bow Avenue and two vehicles that were parked nearby. During the search, investigators located duffle bags full of coins and two stolen firearms – a total value of approximately $19,000.

Kenneth Cain and Desiree Pantoja, 40, were subsequently arrested and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center on charges related to the burglary.

Through ongoing investigative work, detectives learned that a storage shed in the 1900 block of South Greeley Highway was being used by Michael Townsend and Bailee Martinez, 27, to store stolen property. On Jan. 4, detectives served a search warrant at the location and their residence in the 400 block of Murray Road. Numerous silver coins were recovered, consistent with those reported stolen. Martinez and Townsend were both arrested and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center for felony possession of stolen property.

Detectives also learned that a fifth suspect, Timothy Duke, 35, was involved in the burglaries. On Jan. 4, he was arrested and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center on an outstanding extraditable warrant out of Colorado, unrelated to the case.

On Jan. 4 and Jan. 5, detectives served search warrants at Duke’s residence in the 5800 block of Lunsford Drive and also searched his vehicle, a Nissan Titan pickup truck. Numerous stolen items were recovered during the searches, including gold and silver coins valued at more than $5,000, bags containing thousands of dollars in cash, checks belonging to the victim, antique silver dishware, a handwritten note from the victim, and four school yearbooks belonging to the victim’s mother.

Detectives then learned that Duke frequently used an enclosed trailer parked in the 200 block of South Greeley Highway. On Jan. 9, a search warrant was served on the trailer - 29 stolen firearms were recovered along with a box of silver coins valued at more than $1,000.