A convicted felon attempted to sneak a loaded firearm through security at Juneau International Airport, only to be caught red-handed with a round chambered and a duffle bag full of lies. Ryan Matthew Neely, 41, of Woodinville, Washington, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess in Juneau, followed by three years of supervised release.
Neely pleaded guilty in October 2018 to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries serious penalties under federal law. On February 20, 2018, TSA agents stopped him during screening after detecting the weapon in his bag. Neely claimed he didn’t know it was there, saying he’d grabbed the wrong duffle from someone else. The story didn’t fly.
When taken in by Juneau Police Department officers for questioning, Neely doubled down on deception—presenting a stolen ID and impersonating another man. Only after being pressed did he admit his true identity. A background check quickly revealed a criminal history stacked with theft, possession of stolen mail, and identity theft—convictions that legally barred him from owning or carrying any firearm.
But the gun wasn’t the worst of it. During the search incident to arrest, authorities found $8,000 in cash, 1.75 grams of heroin, .45 grams of methamphetamine, and .19 grams of buprenorphine on Neely’s person. The drug haul raised immediate red flags about his activities and intentions beyond the gun charge.
Even after being processed and released on state bail, Neely vanished when federal charges were filed. He absconded, showing no intention to face justice—until he was finally apprehended and held accountable. His attempt to flee only added to the severity of his sentence.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Juneau Police Department (JPD), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt. The message is clear: federal firearms laws are enforced with zero tolerance, especially at transportation hubs where public safety is on the line.
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