Caleb Rhine, 22, of Blue Hill was sentenced on Tuesday to 12 months and one day behind bars for making a false statement while buying a firearm.
On May 5, 2024, Rhine, while under indictment on a count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, bought a gun from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Ellsworth, according to court records cited by the U.S. Department of Justice in a news release.
As part of the purchase, Rhine filled out Form 4473 required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which asks if a person is under indictment for a felony, “or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year.” Rhine falsely checked the box “No,” according to the Justice Department.
He was able to successfully buy the gun a few days later based, in part, on his representations on the ATF form, according to the Justice Department.
His jail time will be followed by three years of supervised release.
