Kingsport man sentenced for illegally possessing firearms

A Kingsport man has been sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Department of Justice said the sentencing of 44 year old Ricco Saine comes after he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge stems from a search of Saine’s vehicle in August of 2021 at the Westside Inn in Kingsport. When officers found a bag containing a loaded gun and his Tennessee identification. Saine’s partner, Tonya Saine, had purchased guns from a federal firearm licensee in October 2021 in Sevierville with Saine present. Investigators found text messages between the two and eyewitness’ accounts linking Ricco Saine to the firearms.