Show-Me State Times

Two convicted felons in Missouri have been sentenced to prison for firearm-related offenses. U.S. District Judge John A. Ross sentenced Steven Matthew Dinzebach, 35, of Franklin County, Missouri, to 72 months in prison with three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig sentenced Bryan Daniel Flynn, 44, of Ballwin, to 75 months in prison with two years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

Flynn pleaded guilty in April to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being caught with 30 firearms and homemade silencers despite being legally barred from possessing guns due to his felony conviction. Additionally, authorities found ballistic vests, stolen property, and drugs at Flynn’s residence.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives conducted a court-approved search of Flynn’s home on July 25, 2023. They discovered cocaine, methamphetamine, Diazepam tablets, Alprazolam tablet and psilocybin among other illegal items. Flynn also admitted to possessing a stolen Ford F250 truck stored on his property near Troy, Missouri. Detectives recovered 27 firearms and various ammunition from the location.

Flynn’s cell phone led investigators to storage units in Festus containing more guns and ammunition and a marina in St. Charles where another silencer was found along with additional ammunition. On August 7, 2023, Flynn's assistant surrendered a Walther firearm that Flynn had asked her to hide.

Dinzebach pleaded guilty in May to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms after being caught with handguns equipped with homemade silencers and large amounts of ammunition. He also admitted selling firearms to Flynn at inflated prices after purchasing them through private sales online.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the cases which were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Torrie Schneider.

"Instead of learning from their pasts," said Bernard G. Hansen, Special Agent in Charge at ATF Kansas City Field Division "they chose to continue a life of crime." He added that the sentencing highlights the partnership between ATF and the St. Louis Police Department aimed at keeping firearms out of felons' hands for community safety.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative uniting law enforcement agencies with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence while fostering trust within neighborhoods.