KC Felon Swim Faces Firearm Charge After Gas Station Run

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Irvin M. Swim, 35, of Kansas City, is facing federal charges after a brazen theft and subsequent foot chase with Independence, Missouri police. Swim is accused of stealing a 9mm handgun from a vehicle earlier this month, adding another layer to a rap sheet already thick with felony convictions.

According to court documents, the incident began on July 5, 2025, when a male citizen reported his vehicle broken into and a 9mm handgun stolen. A female companion of the victim claimed the suspect – later identified as Swim – pointed the stolen weapon at her during the theft. The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury, replaces a previously filed criminal complaint from July 7, 2025.

Independence Police officers spotted Swim matching the suspect description at a gas station, attempting to open the rear door of a vehicle. When officers moved to make contact, Swim bolted, leading them on a foot pursuit. During the chase, officers observed Swim clutching a firearm in his right hand before finally taking him into custody. The stolen Taurus, Model PT111 Millenium G2, 9mm pistol was recovered in a grassy area near 1114 South Fuller Street, loaded with 12 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. The victim positively identified the weapon as his own.

This isn’t Swim’s first rodeo with the law, or firearms. He’s a habitual offender with a lengthy criminal history. Court records show Swim has four prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, two for theft of property, and additional convictions for possession of a controlled substance and burglary. Federal law prohibits anyone with a felony conviction from possessing firearms or ammunition – a law Swim appears to have repeatedly ignored.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Independence, Missouri Police Department. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations at this point, and Swim is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a federal court of law.

This case falls under “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime. The operation leverages resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to streamline efforts and target those responsible for endangering communities.