Date: 12-18-2024

Case Style: United States of America v. Jacob McKenna

Case Number: 23-CR-80

Judge: Christina Reiss

Court: The United States District Court for the District of Vermont (Chittenden County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The States United Attorney’s Office in Burlington

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Burlington, Vermont criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Making False Statements in Acquisition of Firearms
hJeffersonville Husband and Wife Sentenced for Making False Statements in Acquisition of Firearms

Jacob McKenna, 38, of Jeffersonville, Vermont pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with his acquisition of a firearm.

Jacob McKenna went to a federal firearms licensee (FFL) in Williston, Vermont. There, he filled out a written ATF Form 4473 in connection with the purchase of a nine-millimeter pistol. On the form, Jacob McKenna falsely stated he was not a user of illegal drugs. Based on that false statement, Jacob McKenna obtained the pistol. On January 5, 2023, Jacob McKenna returned to the same FFL and tried to buy two more nine-millimeter pistols. When confronted about this conduct on January 6, 2023, Jacob McKenna admitted to purchasing firearms on several occasions intended for persons prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms.

On July 26, 2024, United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Jacob McKenna’s wife, Tamira McKenna, 36, also of Jeffersonville, to time served to be followed by a two-year term of supervised release. Tamira McKenna also previously pleaded guilty to making false statements in acquisition of a firearm.

For her part, on March 10, 2022, Tamira McKenna went to the same FFL in Williston, Vermont, where, like her husband, in the course of acquiring a handgun, she filled out paperwork falsely stating she was not a user of illegal drugs. On January 5, 2023, Tamira McKenna returned to the same FFL and tried unsuccessfully to buy two more nine-millimeter pistols, and again lied on an ATF Form 4473. The next day, during an interview with law enforcement Tamira McKenna admitted to her use of controlled substances and that she intended to purchase the firearms to give them to a person prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Burlington Police Department, the South Burlington Police Department, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the Milton Police Department, and the United States Marshal Service.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Tamira McKenna was represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq. Jacob McKenna was represented by Robert Behrens, Esq.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to time served to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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