An Indiana man accused of selling the gun used in the shooting death of Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Phipps was sentenced in federal court yesterday.
41-year-old Shawn Michael Kays was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in October to a firearms trafficking charge.
Kays’ attorneys argued he had no knowledge that the buyer of the gun would use it in the manner that he did.
Kays admitted to transporting a 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol across state lines between November 2023 and January 2024.
The maximum sentence was 15 years, but that was reduced to 30 months following federal guidelines for this particular case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Kays cooperated with federal prosecutors. They also argued he displayed remorse for his role in the events that led up to the death of Deputy Phipps.
Kays will also be subject to 36 months of supervised probation upon his release.
