John Durkin, a 52-year-old resident of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 20 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of firearms by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The sentence was handed down on February 13, 2026, by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani.
United States Attorney Brian D. Miller stated that Durkin had previously pleaded guilty to possessing several firearms while using methamphetamine unlawfully. Among the weapons were a Heritage Roughrider .22 caliber revolver, which was illegally purchased, and a stolen Keltec 9mm handgun. Both firearms had traveled across state lines before police recovered them from Durkin’s vehicle following a single-car accident on January 28, 2025.
In addition to the firearms, law enforcement found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Durkin’s possession. Items included multiple needles, spoons, and a digital scale.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Kingston Police Department, Newport Township Police Department, and Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
