An Ohio man will serve almost four years in federal prison for selling a semiautomatic rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition to an undercover informant in Florida.
U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell sentenced Russell Renney, 51, to 46 months in prison, according to a statement issued by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe on Tuesday. Renney pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon on December 4, 2025, and was sentenced approximately six months later.
According to federal court filings, the investigation began when Renney approached an informant who worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to sell a firearm. The ATF then scheduled a controlled encounter between the two individuals in Fort Myers, Florida.
During the transaction, Renney gave over a semiautomatic weapon and over 600 rounds of ammunition. In exchange, he got $1,400 from the informant.
Because Renney had many prior criminal convictions, federal law banned him from carrying firearms or ammunition. Furthermore, prosecutors stated that the informant expressly informed Renney during their contacts that he, too, was a convicted felon.
The investigation was performed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter leading the case.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
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