Two Maryland men who stole tens of thousands of dollars' worth of guns from a Henry County store pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Danville.

In November, robbers entered Southern Gun in Collinsville, handcuffed a clerk and took about 75 handguns. Authorities described the incident as one of the largest such robberies in Virginia last year.

Timothy Oliver Jackson Jr., who was 23 and had an Upper Marlboro, Md., address when arrested, pleaded guilty to a robbery that affected interstate commerce and to possessing a firearm in commission of a crime of violence.

Ronald Ganeous, who was 22 and had a Bladensburg, Md., address when arrested, pleaded guilty to the same charges.

The firearm possession charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of seven years in prison.

Charges of possessing stolen firearms against both men were dropped as part of plea agreements.

Shortly after the theft, the Henry County Sheriff's Office estimated the value of the stolen pistols at about $51,000. Jackson's plea agreements described the value as more than $50,000, but Ganeous' listed it as between $30,000 and $50,000.

Lawyers for both men could not be immediately contacted Monday evening.

-- Mike Gangloff