Evansville Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Firearms Case
Brandon D. McKinney received a 13-year federal prison sentence following an investigation that led to the recovery of 41 firearms.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 18, 2026, 4:23 p.m. ET
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On August 18, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced that Brandon D. McKinney, 31, of Evansville, was to 13 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman imposed the sentence in federal district court. The event status is open and developing.
According to court records, detectives with the Evansville Police Department learned in December 2024 that McKinney possessed firearms and illegal drugs. On January 28, 2025, officers initiated surveillance at his residence and observed two individuals enter and leave in a blue Chevy Blazer. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled and subsequently crashed on Highway 41, killing both the driver and the front-seat passenger and closing the highway for nearly two hours. Investigators recovered marijuana and 1.9 grams of methamphetamine from the vehicle.
Detectives arrested McKinney after seeing him place an object in his backyard, cover it with a jacket, and leave the house. A search warrant executed at the home yielded 41 firearms—two of which were reported stolen—390 grams of marijuana, 54.7 grams of methamphetamine, $2,686 in cash, two sets of body armor, approximately 3,000 rounds of ammunition, and multiple high-capacity magazines. Court records state McKinney has prior Indiana felony convictions for burglary with a deadly weapon in Warrick County and felony domestic battery in Vanderburgh County. The case was investigated by the ATF and Evansville Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Kemper.
Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said, "This sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. McKinney’s actions and our commitment to keeping firearms out of the hands of convicted felons." ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge A. Rosendo stated, "While the circumstances surrounding Brandon McKinney’s arrest are deeply tragic and troubling, this 13-year federal sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm caused and helps protect our community from the dangers associated with illegal drugs and firearms."
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