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Quincy E. Richards, a 38-year-old Joplin, Missouri, man, was caught with a firearm despite being a felon. On September 9, 2025, Richards was stopped by law enforcement during the execution of a prior arrest warrant. When he consented to a search of his vehicle, officers found a black backpack in the trunk containing a tan and black Palmetto State Armory 9mm semiautomatic firearm, along with two oversized magazines that could hold 40 and 25 rounds of ammunition.
Richards pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton. The case was part of Operation Spring Cleaning, a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office and law enforcement across Southwest Missouri.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Carthage Missouri Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney is prosecuting the case.
Richards faces up to 15 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
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