Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Jacob McKenna, 38, from Jeffersonville, Vermont, was sentenced on December 17, 2024. Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss imposed a sentence of time served followed by three years of supervised release. Jacob McKenna had previously pleaded guilty to making false statements related to acquiring a firearm.
Court records reveal that on October 28, 2022, Jacob McKenna visited a federal firearms licensee (FFL) in Williston, Vermont. He completed an ATF Form 4473 as part of purchasing a nine-millimeter pistol and falsely declared he was not using illegal drugs. This misrepresentation enabled him to obtain the pistol. On January 5, 2023, he attempted to purchase two more pistols at the same location. When questioned on January 6, 2023, Jacob McKenna confessed to buying firearms intended for individuals prohibited from possessing them legally.
Jacob McKenna's wife, Tamira McKenna, aged 36 and also from Jeffersonville, received her sentence earlier on July 26, 2024. United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced her to time served with two years of supervised release after she pleaded guilty to similar charges.
Tamira McKenna visited the same FFL in Williston on March 10, 2022. She too filled out paperwork falsely claiming she did not use illegal drugs while acquiring a handgun. On January 5, 2023, she unsuccessfully tried again to buy two more pistols and lied on another ATF Form 4473. During an interview with law enforcement the following day, she admitted her drug use and intent to provide firearms to someone prohibited from possessing them legally.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the joint efforts of several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Burlington Police Department among others involved in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig prosecuted the case while Lisa Shelkrot represented Tamira McKenna and Robert Behrens represented Jacob McKenna.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement levels and communities they serve since its strategy update launched by the Department on May 26th ,2021 emphasizing trust-building within communities alongside strategic enforcement priorities aimed at preventing violence before it occurs . More information about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.