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Press Release

Jury Convicts Jefferson City Man of Illegal Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri
 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Jefferson City, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today of illegally possessing six firearms.

Andrew David Brandwein, 39, of Jefferson City, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of firearms.

Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Brandwein was in possession of six firearms – a Marlin .22 magnum caliber rifle, a Harrington and Richardson .223-caliber rifle, a Weatherby .300 SBY Mag. rifle, a New England Firearms 10-gauge shotgun, a Rossi .30-06 Springfield rifle and a Harrington and Richardson .410 shotgun – on Jan. 8, 2011.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Brandwein has three prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and prior felony convictions for attempting to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of a precursor drug with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a concealable firearm and the distribution, delivery, sale or manufacture of a controlled substance.

His wife, Debra Louise Brandwein, 54, pleaded guilty on Aug. 9, 2013, to tampering with evidence. She admitted that she cleaned two jars that contained methamphetamine in order to protect her husband from prosecution.

Law enforcement officers were dispatched to the Brandwein’s residence on Jan. 8, 2011, when a large barn on the property caught on fire. Officers knocked on the door but received no response. After they used the keys from a truck parked near the barn to enter the house, Andrew Brandwein came out of the back bedroom, and appeared disoriented and confused. Debra Brandwein arrived at the residence a short time later. While in the residence, officers found five firearms sitting on the floor next to a television stand. There was also a loaded Harrington and Richardson .223 rifle lying on the ground next to the truck near the barn.

Andrew Brandwein was arrested; officers found several .223 shells and $2,458 in his pants pockets.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., deliberated for about two and a half hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, ending a trial that began Monday, Aug. 12, 2013.

Under federal statutes, Andrew Brandwein is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Berry. It was investigated by the Cole County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Osage Fire Protection District, MUSTANG  (the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team And Narcotics Group) and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Updated January 8, 2015