KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – Two Topeka men are facing federal charges for possession of stolen assault rifles, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

23-year-old Dominique Lee Boyles and 20-year-old Gerome Rayton are charged with one count of possession of stolen firearms. In addition, Boyles is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.

Boyles and Rayton initially were charged in a criminal complaint filed Nov. 16, 2012, in U.S. District Court in Topeka. According to an agent’s affidavit, on Nov. 16 the Topeka Police Department’s Violent Crime/Gang Unit stopped a white Honda Accord in which Boyles and Rayton were passengers. Boyles, who was riding in the back, was identified as a member of the 357 Crip street gang. Rayton was sitting in the front passenger seat with a backpack between his legs.

When the driver got out of the vehicle to talk to officers, Rayton jumped into the driver’s seat and tried to put the vehicle into gear. An officer reached through the passenger side window to stop Rayton from taking off in the vehicle. Rayton continued to push on the accelerator as he tried to put the car into drive. The officer, half inside the vehicle, continued to struggle with him. The vehicle began moving in reverse and rammed a Topeka Police Department patrol car. After the crash, police regained control and arrested Rayton and Boyles. Officers found a STAG-15 assault rifle in the rear driver’s side floorboard under Boyles’ feet. In Rayton’s backpack they found a Kel Tec sub-2000 .40 caliber assault rifle. Both rifles were found to be stolen.

If convicted, each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.