Brent Michael Bury, Felon in Possession of a Stolen Handgun, Wyoming 2023

CHEYENNE, WY – Brent Michael Bury, 33, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, is headed to federal prison for 75 months after admitting to being a felon in possession of a stolen handgun. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl handed down the sentence on June 22, 2023, adding three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the punishment. The case underscores the relentless federal crackdown on repeat offenders illegally armed.

According to court documents, Cheyenne Police served a search warrant at a residence connected to Bury. During questioning, Bury confessed his status as a convicted felon and his knowledge that possessing a firearm was prohibited. He claimed he “found” the weapon and secured it in a safe in his bedroom. That pistol, investigators quickly discovered, was reported stolen on August 22, 2022, after a vehicle burglary right here in Cheyenne. Bury’s attempt to hide the gun couldn’t conceal his criminal history.

The investigation wasn’t a solo effort. The Cheyenne Police Department partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to build the case against Bury. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Coppom skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence that led to the conviction and subsequent sentencing. The cooperation between agencies signals a coordinated approach to tackling gun crime in Wyoming.

Meanwhile, in Kaycee, Wyoming, Wesley Ray Richardson, 59, received a 51-month federal prison sentence on June 16, 2023, also for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence, including three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Richardson’s case began with a simple report: a stolen backpack from a vehicle in Johnson County on October 21, 2022.

Law enforcement quickly honed in on Richardson, who already had two outstanding burglary warrants. After his arrest, Richardson confessed and led deputies directly to the stolen property at his Kaycee residence – along with four firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took the lead on this investigation, again with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom handling the prosecution. Richardson’s attempt to profit from theft and illegally possess weapons proved to be a costly mistake.

These two cases, though separate, paint a grim picture of firearms falling into the wrong hands in Wyoming. Both Bury and Richardson, already burdened by criminal records, chose to disregard the law, endangering the community. Federal authorities are making it clear: illegally possessing firearms will result in significant prison time. The Denver Field Division of the ATF continues to work with local law enforcement to stem the flow of illegal weapons and hold offenders accountable.

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