Local Man Pleads Guilty In Gun Case, Sentencing Set For November

Monday, August 24, 2026, First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III,  Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Bryan DiGirolamo, and Vestal Police Department Chief of Police Vince Stavola announced that a Broome County man pleaded guilty to a gun offense.

32-year-old Bryan Nixon from Endicott pled guilty on July 27, 2026, in Syracuse, to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon.  

Nixon admitted that he possessed a loaded handgun in February of 2025 during a vehicle stop by police. He fled the scene, disassembled the handgun, and struck another vehicle before exiting the roadway.

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The report notes that Nixon threw parts of the disassembled firearm into a wooded area. At the time of this offense, Nixon was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law because he had been previously convicted of a felony for attempted robbery.

 This incident is a prime example of why we continue to work closely with our federal partners to make sure violent offenders are held accountable. Nixon entered the Town of Vestal and put the lives of our residents, motorists, and police officers at risk without hesitation or regard for the consequences of his actions. That was clear when he illegally carried a firearm into our town, menaced a police officer, and fled from a lawful traffic stop, ultimately striking another motorist. Nixon knew what he was doing was illegal, evident by the fact that he tried to destroy evidence by dismantling and concealing the firearm. Thankfully, our federal partners were able to take action stemming from this incident, now he faces up to 15 years in federal prison. - Vestal Police Department Chief of Police Vince Stavola

November 24, 2026, when he is sentenced, Nixon will face a maximum sentence of up to 15 years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.  

As alleged, Nixon knowingly possessed a firearm illegally as a previously convicted felon, and when stopped by police, fled in an attempt to evade arrest and discard the firearm. This Administration is committed to cracking down on repeat offenders, and with the help of our partners at the Vestal Police Department and ATF, defendants like Nixon should be on notice: repeat violent offenders carrying deadly weapons will be caught and will be prosecuted. - First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vestal Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Grabowski is prosecuting the case.

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