Wichita man sentenced for firearm crime

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced 60 months in prison for having a gun while trafficking narcotics. 

According to court documents, Clinton Bruner, 59, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

The charge stems from a November 2022 search warrant at Bruner’s home where officers found approximately one kilogram of powder cocaine in a basement and another ounce of cocaine in a bedroom. Law enforcement also found two firearms, a M&P Shield .40 caliber handgun and a Berretta Nano 9mm firearm. After Bruner had been read his Miranda rights, he admitted to selling drugs, and he said that the firearms were his for protection because he had recently been robbed.

“Whenever guns are in the hands of illegal drug traffickers, the threat of violence increases exponentially. This not only endangers the lives of those involved in criminal activity, but also puts entire communities at great risk of being caught in crossfire,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. 

The Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster prosecuted the case.

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