North Carolina Man Sentenced for Unlawfully Dealing & Selling Firearms

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Juston McDowell, age 25, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, was sentenced yesterday to 27 months in prison for unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, McDowell admitted that between March 2022 and February 2025, he acquired multiple firearms, including handguns and switches, in North Carolina and then sold the firearms in Albany, New York, and elsewhere. McDowell also admitted that he did not have a license that would allow him to deal in firearms.

FAUSA John A. Sarcone III stated: "Juston McDowell is responsible for putting numerous firearms in the hands of individuals who sought to circumvent laws designed to keep our communities safe. His actions were dangerous and caused additional unregulated firearms to enter our neighborhoods. Yesterday's sentence sends a message: If you illegally bring guns into my District, you will be punished. I commend the hard work and determination of our partners at ATF and AUSA Belliss for bringing this dangerous individual to justice."

ATF SAC Bryan DiGirolamo stated: "This sentencing holds accountable an individual who unlawfully trafficked firearms across state lines, putting dangerous weapons-including machine gun conversion devices-into our communities. ATF is committed to disrupting the illegal flow of firearms that drive violence, and this case underscores the critical role of partnership in that mission. We thank the ATF NY Albany Field Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York for their dedication to this investigation and prosecution."

United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 3-year term of post-release supervision.

ATF investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted this case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

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