springfield Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms.
Andrew Byron Morgan, 22, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to eight years and three months in federal prison without parole.
On Aug. 31, 2011, Morgan pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms. Morgan was arrested by Springfield police officers when they observed him get into a stolen Cadillac Escalade in Sequiota Park in Springfield. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a stolen Walther .40-caliber handgun and a stolen Winchester 12-gauge shotgun.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearms or ammunition. Morgan has five prior felony convictions for burglary and a prior felony conviction for arson.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the ATF.
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