Antowan L. Wade, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Missouri 2023

A Springfield man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Antowan L. Wade, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

The sentence stems from a guilty plea entered by Wade on August 3, 2023, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. This charge is a violation of federal law, which prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing any firearm or ammunition.

The discovery of the firearm was made during a search of Wade's apartment on May 9, 2022. The search was conducted by members of the U.S. Probation Office, who were investigating Wade for violating the terms of his supervised release. Wade was on supervised release after serving a federal prison sentence for bank robbery.

During the search, a Canik55 9mm semi-automatic pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition was found under a pillow on the bed in Wade's bedroom. This discovery led to the charges against Wade, who has a history of felony convictions. In addition to bank robbery, Wade has prior felony convictions for the robbery of a Best Buy store in Joplin, Missouri, making and passing counterfeit currency, and burglary.

Wade's case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The program brings together law enforcement and community organizations to support community-based initiatives that prevent violence and make neighborhoods safer.

Antowan L. Wade's sentence is a result of his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. His prior felony convictions, including bank robbery and other violent crimes, contributed to his sentence as an armed career criminal.

The exact date of the search was May 9, 2022, and the sentencing date was not provided. Antowan L. Wade's crime was being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The firearm in question was a Canik55 9mm semi-automatic pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition. Wade's case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/springfield-man-sentenced-15-years-illegal-firearm-1