A Waterville woman has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor for her involvement in a firearm purchase scheme. Nikeshia Knight, 25, received a sentence of 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting another individual in making false statements during the purchase of a firearm on October 30, 2024.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) uncovered Knight's involvement after obtaining an ATF Form 4473 related to a June 16, 2022 firearm purchase from a licensed dealer in Fairfield, Maine. Upon investigation, it was revealed that Knight had used a straw purchaser to acquire the firearm due to her inability to pass a background check. She provided money and fentanyl as compensation once the purchase was completed. Text messages confirmed that she directed the transaction.
Jason Palmer, 44, of Albion was also sentenced for his role as the straw purchaser. He received a sentence of 12 months and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The ATF conducted the investigation into this case.
"STRAW PURCHASING: A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her."