Jefferson City couple sentenced for illegal guns

A Jefferson City couple was sentenced in federal court Wednesday on illegal gun and tampering with evidence charges.

Andrew Brandwein, 39, was sentenced to the federal maximum of ten years in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

His wife Debra, 55, was sentenced to 21 months in prison without parole on a tampering with evidence charge which she pleaded guilty to in August.

The charges stemmed from a barn fire on the couple’s property on January 8, 2011.

According to a news release, officers knocked on the couple’s door during the fire investigation. They used keys from a truck parked nearby to open the door as Andrew Brandwein walked out of a back bedroom, looking disoriented and confused.

Officers found five guns sitting on the floor next to the television. They would later find two more on the ground next to the truck by the barn.

According to a news release, Brandwein was in possession of a Marlin .22 magnum caliber rifle, a Harrington and Richardson .223-caliber rifle, a Weatherby .300 SBY Mag. rifle, a New England Firearms 10-gauge shotgun, a Rossi .30-06 Springfield rifle and a Harrington and Richardson .410 shotgun.

He was found guilty in August 2013. He had several prior felony convictions for drug and firearm possession.

Debra Brandwein showed up to the home later. She would admit in court to cleaning two jars that had held methamphetamine so her husband could avoid prosecution.