Gail Manney, Straw Purchasing Firearms, Nevada 2021

Reno Woman Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing Firearms

Reno, Nevada – In a move to combat gun violence, a Reno woman who made false statements when she purchased multiple firearms that were bought for her son, a convicted felon, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Gail Manney (48) was found guilty of illegal acquisition of firearms in December 2022. According to court documents, on April 21, 2021, Manney illegally purchased seven firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee for her son.

“Buying a firearm for someone who is a prohibited person — be it a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger — is a serious offense and a violation of federal law,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Our office and ATF combine resources to ensure firearms do not end up in the hands of prohibited persons.”

“Straw purchasing is not a victimless crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The act of willfully providing a prohibited person with a firearm by purchasing the firearm on their behalf puts firearms in the hands of criminal organizations and violent criminals which presents a grave threat to the safety of our communities. It is a federal crime to conduct the act of straw purchasing and ATF will continue to work with our prosecutorial partners to ensure that straw purchasers are held accountable.”

Manney was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben on [no date provided]. The ATF investigated the case, while Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Andrew Keenan prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

If you have information pertaining to illegal firearms activity such as a straw purchase, please contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). Anonymous tips may also be submitted to ATF through the ReportIt mobile app.

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