Gail Manney, Straw Purchasing Firearms, Nevada 2021

RENO, NV – Gail Manney, 48, of Reno, Nevada, will spend the next 18 months in federal prison after being convicted of illegally purchasing seven firearms for her son, a convicted felon prohibited from owning them. U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben handed down the sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release.

The scheme unfolded on April 21, 2021, when Manney walked into a Federal Firearms Licensee and, according to court documents, lied on the required federal forms. She claimed to be the actual buyer, concealing the fact that the weapons were destined for her son, a man already barred from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction. A jury found Manney guilty in December 2022, after evidence detailed her deliberate deception.

“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,” stated United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. His office, working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), brought the case to light, emphasizing the commitment to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the ATF didn’t mince words, stating, “Straw purchasing is not a victimless crime.” Jackson explained that providing firearms to prohibited individuals fuels criminal organizations and puts communities at risk. “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,” he added. The case underscores the agency’s ongoing effort to trace and disrupt illegal gun trafficking networks.

The prosecution, handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Andrew Keenan, was brought under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime by fostering collaboration between all levels of law enforcement. The Department of Justice has prioritized tackling the surge in violent crime across the nation, and PSN represents a key component of that strategy.

Anyone with information regarding illegal firearms activity, including straw purchases, is urged to contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the ATF’s ReportIt mobile app. This case serves as a stark warning: aiding a convicted felon in obtaining firearms carries significant federal penalties and endangers public safety.

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