Two Charged After Dozens of Firearms Stolen from Apple Valley Storage Unit
Published: April 24, 2026
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - Two people are now facing felony charges in connection with the theft of dozens of firearms from a storage unit in Apple Valley earlier this month, according to newly filed Dakota County criminal complaints.
Mark Anthony Smith Jr., 39, of West St. Paul, and Samantha Jo Brooks, 39, of St. Paul, have both been charged following an investigation led by the Apple Valley Police Department.
Smith is charged with:
Felony firearm violation (prohibited person in possession of a firearm)
Felony receiving stolen property (firearm)
Brooks is charged with:
Felony receiving stolen property (firearm)
Theft Involved Dozens of Firearms
According to the complaints, officers were initially called to investigate a reported theft at a self-storage facility in Apple Valley. During that investigation, authorities discovered a second storage unit belonging to a victim had also been burglarized.
Investigators determined that approximately 45 firearms, along with additional personal property, had been stolen from the unit.
Surveillance footage from the evening of April 8, 2026, reportedly shows a vehicle registered to Brooks arriving at the victim’s storage unit around 7:56 p.m. A male suspect is seen exiting the vehicle, entering the unit, and loading items into the vehicle over more than two hours, before leaving around 10:20 p.m.
Authorities later identified the male suspect as Smith, who had prior contacts associated with the vehicle.
Investigation Leads to Inver Grove Heights Storage Unit
As investigators continued tracking the vehicle, they learned that Brooks had rented a storage unit in Inver Grove Heights. Law enforcement conducted surveillance at that location and observed both Smith and Brooks accessing the unit, with the same vehicle parked nearby.
On April 22, 2026, officers executed a search warrant at Brooks’ storage unit. According to the complaints, both Smith and Brooks were located outside the open unit at the time.
During the search, officers recovered 13 firearms believed to have been stolen from the Apple Valley storage unit.
Criminal History and Legal Status
Authorities state Smith is legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, including:
Third-degree controlled substance crime (2020)
Domestic assault (2014)
Third-degree assault (2007)
Additional court records indicate Smith has an extensive criminal history and multiple pending cases, including felony burglary and theft charges. His estimated criminal history score is listed as 14.
According to court documents, Brooks has no serious prior convictions but is currently involved in a diversion case related to theft offenses.
Bail and Court Conditions
Smith’s bail was set at $150,000 without conditions, or $75,000 with conditions, which include no contact with Brooks or the victim, no possession of firearms or controlled substances, random chemical testing, and participation in a pretrial release program.
Brooks’ interim bail was set at $15,000 without conditions, or $5,000 with conditions, which include no contact with Smith or the victim, no possession of firearms, and remaining law-abiding.
As of the writing of this article, neither Brooks nor Smith has posted bail and remains in custody at the Dakota County Jail.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation remains active as authorities continue working to recover the remaining stolen firearms and determine whether additional individuals may be involved.
As with all criminal cases, both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Written by: Will Wight
