PERU, IN – Curtis Birner, 37, of Peru, Indiana, is headed to federal prison for nine years and two months after a jury found him guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. handed down the 110-month sentence followed by two years of supervised release on Monday.
The case unfolded after Birner brazenly walked into a Peru gas station in October 2021 with a handgun tucked inside his sweatshirt. He allegedly displayed the weapon to another individual, triggering a 911 call. When officers responded, they found Birner not at the gas station, but parked at another one, his vehicle practically an armory. A rifle and handgun were in plain sight on the passenger seat, with a shotgun in the back.
This wasn’t Birner’s first dance with the law, or with federal firearms charges. Authorities revealed he’s a repeat offender with multiple prior felony convictions, including a previous federal conviction for – you guessed it – being a felon in possession of a firearm. Each of those convictions should have already disqualified him from owning any weapons.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, with crucial assistance from the Miami County Sheriff’s Department and the Peru Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerome W. McKeever and Katelan M. Doyle prosecuted the case, successfully convincing a jury of Birner’s guilt.
Federal officials are framing the sentencing as a win for “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. The program emphasizes building trust, supporting community organizations, and focusing enforcement efforts on the most pressing threats.
But for the residents of Peru, and for those concerned about repeat offenders flouting gun laws, the case serves as a stark reminder that even with convictions on the record, the cycle of crime continues. Birner’s 110-month sentence offers a temporary reprieve, but the question remains: will it be enough to prevent him from returning to the same dangerous path upon his release?
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