KANSAS CITY, MO – Erin L. Graves, 44, of Stanberry, Missouri, is facing serious federal charges after authorities discovered he was in possession of an illegal weapon. A federal grand jury handed down a two-count indictment today, alleging Graves knowingly broke the law with a dangerously modified firearm.
According to the indictment, Graves was found to be in possession of a Remington 20-gauge shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches on January 15th. This immediately flags the weapon as illegal under federal regulations governing short-barreled shotguns. Graves is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing an unregistered firearm – a double whammy that could land him back behind bars for a long stretch.
But the gun charge isn’t the only baggage Graves is carrying. Court records reveal a lengthy and troubling criminal history. Graves has a staggering *ten* prior felony convictions, including five for stealing, two for driving with a suspended or revoked license, two for tampering with a motor vehicle, two for burglary, and convictions for both possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. A career criminal, to put it bluntly.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, working alongside the Gentry County Sheriff’s Office and the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force. The ATF’s focus on illegal firearms, combined with local law enforcement efforts, brought Graves’ alleged activities to light. This wasn’t a random stop; it was a targeted investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings is prosecuting the case. As with all indictments, these are accusations at this stage. Graves is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a federal court of law. However, given his extensive record, prosecutors are likely to push for a significant sentence if convicted.
This case is being touted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” initiative, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. Whether this initiative will truly make a difference in neighborhoods plagued by gun violence remains to be seen, but authorities are hoping to send a message: illegal gun possession will not be tolerated.
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- Ja’Von Taylor, Illegal Machine Gun, Kansas City MO, 2023 · Kansas
- Charles Allen Roark, Illegal Firearm Possession, MO 2016 · Illinois
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