GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Brandon Wade Kurns, 29, of Helena, Montana, is headed to federal prison after admitting he illegally packed heat despite a prior felony conviction. Kurns was sentenced today to three years behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris handed down the sentence.
The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Montana Probation and Parole, revealed Kurns wasn’t just around guns – he was handling them as both a customer and briefly as an employee at Modern Pawn in Helena during June and July of 2021. Court documents show Kurns, already a convicted felon following a 2020 felony criminal endangerment conviction in Lewis and Clark County, possessed at least eight firearms and routinely dealt with ammunition inventory at the pawn shop.
This wasn’t a case of a single stray weapon. Kurns, despite being legally barred from owning firearms, was actively involved in handling the store’s inventory. The ATF’s investigation didn’t stop with Kurns. It was a broader look at Modern Pawn, leading to convictions of other individuals on related charges, though details of those cases remain scarce.
U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, leading the prosecution, framed the case as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN). PSN, a federal initiative, aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by coordinating law enforcement at all levels. The DOJ launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, prevention programs, and focused enforcement.
The sentencing of Kurns highlights the ATF’s continued focus on preventing convicted felons from accessing firearms. While the investigation into Modern Pawn suggests potential systemic issues at the business, the focus remains on individual accountability. Kurns’s actions directly violated federal law, putting the public at risk and landing him a three-year prison term.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Beyond the prison sentence, Kurns will be under supervised release for another three years after he’s released, meaning he’ll be subject to strict conditions and monitoring. The ATF’s Denver Field Division handled the investigation, demonstrating the agency’s reach across multiple states.
Related Federal Cases
- Erik Perlberg, Illegal Firearms Possession, Billings MT, 2023 · Montana
- Nicholas Capella, Illegal Firearms Possession, Laurel MT, 2023 · Montana
- Brandon Hoskins, Possession of Firearm in Drug Offense, IL 2016 · Illinois
- Toby Acevedo, Illegal Firearm Possession, South Dakota 2023 · Montana
- Malta Man Admits to Illegal Silencer Possession · Alabama
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons