Springfield Man Zegar Cuffed in Federal Gun Bust

Springfield, Mo., felon Timothy Zegar, 39, is behind bars on federal charges for illegally possessing a .556-caliber rifle—just weeks after selling the weapon to an undercover agent. The arrest marks the culmination of a months-long investigation into black-market gun trafficking.

Zegar was charged Jan. 31 in U.S. District Court with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was taken into federal custody the same day and remains locked up pending a detention hearing scheduled for Feb. 6, 2023. The charge stems from his sale and possession of a Spike’s Tactical rifle between Jan. 18 and Jan. 21, 2023.

Under federal law, anyone convicted of a felony is barred from owning or handling firearms or ammunition. Zegar’s criminal past includes a prior felony conviction for fleeing and eluding law enforcement—an offense that stripped him of his gun rights long before the current case surfaced.

The investigation began in August 2022, when the FBI launched a probe into suspected illegal firearms trafficking tied to Zegar. The break came when an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives contacted Zegar about buying a weapon. On Jan. 21, the agent met Zegar at his Springfield residence and purchased the Spike’s Tactical rifle on tape.

An affidavit backing the criminal complaint lays out the transaction in detail, confirming the weapon was functional and traceable. Investigators say the evidence points to intentional, knowing possession and sale of a high-powered firearm by a prohibited individual—a federal crime carrying stiff penalties upon conviction.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. The FBI, ATF, Springfield Police Department, and Greene County Sheriff’s Department all assisted in the investigation. The complaint is an accusation; trial by jury will determine guilt or innocence.