A Montpelier man was sentenced to eight years in prison earlier this week for stealing and then trading 12 handguns to a Connecticut drug dealer in exchange for heroin.
Sean McKinnon, 29, stole a Jeep from a local dealership in March last year, drove it to R&L Archery in Barre where he used a pry bar to enter and then stole 12 .20 caliber handguns from a display case, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
McKinnon then drove to Hartford, Connecticut, where he traded the guns for heroin. Two days later police searched his home and found 45 bags of heroin, drug paraphernalia, several pry bars, a shotgun and ammunition.
He later told police it was not the first time he’d traded that drug dealer guns for heroin. McKinnon said he also gave the dealer an SKS assault rifle and a .380 caliber pistol with a laser sight.
Hartford police recovered one of the stolen handguns during a traffic stop in August, but none of the other weapons have been found.
“Working with our state and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively prosecute those who illegally place guns in the hands of drug dealers,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Miller in a statement.
In addition to the prison sentence, McKinnon faces three years of supervised release and must repay R&L Archery $3,790 for costs associated with the burglary.
