An assault rifle and tactical vest may now be in the hands of a drug dealer in Upstate New York after they were stolen from the unlocked vehicle of a Department of Homeland Security Agent.

Lawrence Russell

The DHS officer, Leroy Doctor, "had left his machine gun laying on the back seat of the vehicle," according to an affidavit from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Sean Martineck provided to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Suspect Russell Lawrence admitted stealing items from unlocked cars in Brighton in September to fund his heroin addiction. Prosecutors told WHAM-TV that Lawrence stole the Colt M4 rifle, a tactical police vest and two 30-round rifle magazines from the vehicle.

Doctor notified Brighton Police about the theft, and police arrested Lawrence in Parma on November 6 after he crashed a stolen vehicle. He told them he thought he had locked his car.

Lawrence admitted selling the agency-issued .223 assault rifle, vest and ammo to a drug dealer the same night he stole them for $750 in cash and heroin.

The whereabouts of the weapon is now unknown. It is also unknown if the DHS agent is still employed.

Lawrence, who had three prior felony convictions, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and possession of a stolen firearm.