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THREE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED FOR FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Todd P. Graves, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that three defendants were sentenced in federal court today, in separate and unrelated cases, for illegally possessing firearms.

* Eddie S. Bell, 47, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith this afternoon to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole.

On April 29, 2004, a federal trial jury found Bell guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Specifically, the federal jury found Bell guilty of illegally possessing a Taurus 9 mm pistol on Sept. 27, 2003. Under federal law, Graves explained, it is illegal for any felon to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Bell has several criminal felony convictions for stealing, receiving stolen property, burglary and possession of a controlled substance. The convictions date back as far as 1977 and the most recent occurred in 2003.

Law enforcement officers found Bell in possession of the firearm after responding to an overdose call in the 4400 block of 39th Street in Kansas City. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found Bell seated in the driver's seat of his vehicle, unresponsive to questions. Emergency personnel treated Bell for overdosing on heroin, which he had injected into his arm.

After attending to Bell, law enforcement officers discovered that he had been convicted of a felony. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed that he was in possession of the semi-automatic pistol, Graves said.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes, IV. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

* Anthony J. Ross, 23, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey this afternoon to three years and one month in federal prison without parole.

On May 5, 2004, Ross pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. By pleading guilty, Ross admitted that he was in possession of a Russian SKS rifle on Jan. 9, 2004. Under federal statutes, Graves explained, it is illegal for any felon to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Ross has a 1997 criminal felony conviction for felonious restraint.

Ross was originally charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2004, in Kansas City.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes, IV. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

* Hollis R. Burgin, 21, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith this morning to one year and three months in federal prison without parole.

On June 29, 2004, Burgin pleaded guilty to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. By pleading guilty, Burgin admitted that he was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun while also an unlawful user or addict of marijuana on Dec. 7, 2003. Under federal statutes, Graves explained, it is illegal for any unlawful user of a controlled substance to be in possession of a firearm.

Burgin was originally charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on May 18, 2004, in Kansas City.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


Go after the crooks not the honest gun owners.