SCRANTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Durkin, age 52, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 13, 2026, to 20 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of possession of firearms by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Durkin previously pled guilty to possessing multiple firearms, including an illegally purchased Heritage Roughrider .22 caliber revolver and a stolen Keltec 9mm handgun while he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Both firearms had moved in interstate commerce prior to their recovery by police in Durkin’s vehicle after a January 28, 2025, single-car accident. Durkin also possessed a quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, including multiple needles, spoons, and a digital scale.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Newport Township Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
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