Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Robert Gay, 35, of Gardiner, Maine was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 2½ years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court records, on June 2, 2018, the defendant was hired to perform plumbing work at a residence in Scarborough, Maine.  While working in the basement, the defendant came across and later stole a rifle that belonged to the homeowner.  A search of the defendant’s cell phone revealed text conversations reflecting that the defendant stole the rifle and sold it to another individual.  The purchaser was identified and the rifle was recovered and returned to the homeowner.  The defendant was prohibited from possessing the rifle because he had two 2018 felony theft convictions.

The case was investigated by the Scarborough and Gardiner Police Departments; the FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.