Springfield man sentenced for illegally possessing firearm

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Joseph Bradley Garrison, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 46 months imprisonment for his illegal possession of a firearm. Judge Bough also ordered the sentence to run consecutively with his prior state conviction in Lawrence County, Mo., case number 12LW-CR01381, for second degree burglary, stealing, and tampering with a motor vehicle.

On June 30, 2023, Springfield, Mo., police officers conducted a traffic stop of Garrison, as he was walking in the street despite a sidewalk being present. 

 As they contacted Garrison, he was asked if he had anything illegal or dangerous on him. Garrison admitted he had a firearm on his person, but that the firearm did not work. Officers conducted a search of Garrison and found a firearm and a small improvised explosive device. Upon review, the explosive device was safety denotated by the Springfield, Mo,, Fire Marshal. Law enforcement then evaluated the firearm found on Garrison’s person and it was determined that the firearm could readily be repaired and returned to a functional status. 

 Officers confirmed Garrison was a convicted felon, with two prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, as well as 11 other felony offenses for various crimes that include first degree assault, burglary, resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and forgery. Any of these felony convictions made Garrison a prohibited person from possessing either the firearm or the improvised explosive device.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.

Former Springfield postal employee sentenced for burglarizing post office, stealing mail

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A former Postal Employee living in Springfield, Mo., area, was sentenced for his burglary of a local post office building and theft of mail matter.

Zachary M. Walker, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment for his burglary of a local post office building and his theft of mail matter.

On July 24, 2024, inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted an undercover operation that included the placement of a secret camera within a local post office building. 

 Law enforcement had learned that a former U.S. Postal employee, Walker, had been burglarizing the local post office building, entering the building after hours, and stealing various items from storage bins within the post office. Walker used his knowledge of postal procedures, and a code to an exterior passcode doorway lock, that allowed him to enter the post office after hours. 

Walker, familiar with the storage of mail matter within the post office, targeted specific mail bins to steal valuable items being shipped with the U.S. Postal Service. In total, Walker stole $2,100 in property from various mail matter bins.

Walker was also sentenced to pay restitution in the amount of $2,100, a final order of forfeiture was also entered by the Court for $2,100, and he was ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release upon his completion of his term of imprisonment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.

Springfield man sentenced to 12 1/2 years on federal weapons charge

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Kenneth Terrell Jones, 58, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Beth Phillips to 150 months in federal prison without parole to be followed by three years of supervised release.

On Aug. 15, 2024, a Springfield, Mo., Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop of an SUV with no license plates. 

During the stop the officer observed a baggie containing suspected controlled substances. A search of the vehicle found a Taurus, PT111 Millennium G2 pistol, which had previously been reported stolen out of St. Louis and additional controlled substances, including methamphetamine and heroin. In Jones’s subsequent statements to the officer, he admitted that both the firearm and the drugs belonged to him, and that he had purchased the firearm from a person who he only knew by an alias.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jones has a significant criminal history, with prior convictions for burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, robbery in the second degree, rape, hindering prosecution of a felony, felony stealing, felony possession of a controlled substances, felony resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, and felony receiving stolen property.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.