Manhattan man convicted of illegal attempted firearm purchase sentenced to prison By: MTN News and last updated 2021-01-21 17:46:11-05 MISSOULA â A Manhattan man who was convicted at trial of providing false information on a form when trying to buy a firearm was sentenced today to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, on Oct. 1, 2020, found Joshua Rodney Meech, 29, guilty of false statement during a firearms transaction. The one-day bench trial was held on Sept. 28, 2020. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Meech attempted to buy a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from Bob Ward & Sons, Inc., in Bozeman on April 4, 2020. In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said Meech, while shopping for firearms at the store, completed a Firearms Transaction Report, known at ATF Form 4473, signed and dated the form and provided it to an employee for a background check. A few days later, Bob Ward's was notified that Meech's request had been denied.