Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm at Juneau Airport

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that a convicted felon was sentenced today for illegally possessing a firearm at Juneau International Airport. 

Ryan Matthew Neely, 41, of Woodenville, Washington, was sentenced in Juneau by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to serve 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  In October 2018, Neely pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

According to court documents, on Feb. 20, 2018, Neely was trying to clear security at Juneau International Airport with a duffle bag that contained a loaded firearm with a round in the chamber.  When confronted by law enforcement, Neely claimed he had no knowledge about the firearm and that he grabbed the bag from someone else, not knowing there was a firearm inside. 

When Neely was taken to the Juneau Police Department for further questioning, he lied about his identity and presented a stolen identification to the officer, and claimed to be that person.  After providing his true identity, officers were able to determine that Neely was prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior convictions for theft, possession of stolen mail, and identify theft.  At the time of his arrest, Neely was in possession of $8,000, 1.75 grams of heroin, .45 grams of methamphetamine, and .19 grams of buprenorphine.  According to court documents, Neely was immediately released from state custody on bail and later absconded once he learned he was facing federal felon in possession charges. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Juneau Police Department (JPD), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt.