Grandview Felon Gets 5 Years for Stolen Gun & Threats

KANSAS CITY, MO – John L. Arrocha, 50, of Grandview, Missouri, will spend the next five years in federal prison after being sentenced today for illegally possessing a stolen firearm and escalating a simple trespass into a violent confrontation with Kansas City police. U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs handed down the sentence, with no possibility of parole.

The trouble began June 2, 2024, when officers responded to a disturbance call at a business in the 4300 block of Main Street. Arrocha was allegedly trespassing and refusing to leave when police arrived. What started as a property dispute quickly turned dangerous. According to court documents, Arrocha actively resisted arrest and leveled explicit threats to kill the officers attempting to take him into custody.

A subsequent search of Arrocha following his arrest uncovered a North American Arms, Guardian .380 caliber pistol. The firearm wasn’t just any gun – it had been reported stolen out of Claycomo, Missouri. But the stolen weapon was only part of the problem. A routine criminal history check revealed Arrocha was already a convicted felon, making possession of any firearm a federal offense.

On January 29, 2025, Arrocha pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, acknowledging the severity of his actions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh prosecuted the case, built on the investigation conducted by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. The swift prosecution sends a clear message: illegally carrying a firearm, especially a stolen one, and threatening law enforcement will be met with serious consequences.

This case isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence at the local level. Launched in 2021, PSN focuses on fostering trust between law enforcement and communities, supporting violence prevention initiatives, and strategically targeting enforcement efforts.

The DOJ’s renewed PSN strategy emphasizes a four-pronged approach: building legitimacy, supporting community groups, focusing enforcement, and meticulously measuring results. While the sentencing of John L. Arrocha represents one victory, the larger goal of Project Safe Neighborhoods is to create lasting, positive change in communities plagued by gun violence, and to ensure that neighborhoods are truly safer for everyone.

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