Kotah Ray Armstrong, Possessing a Shotgun, Oklahoma 2023

HOLDENVILLE, OK – Kotah Ray Armstrong, 30, is headed to federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing a shotgun. Armstrong was sentenced to 12 months behind bars on Monday, December 18, 2023, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

The case unfolded on April 7, 2022, when Oklahoma DOC Probation and Parole officers conducted a routine home visit at Armstrong’s Holdenville residence. It wasn’t a surprise inspection, but what they found certainly was: a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Armstrong, already a convicted felon, knew he was prohibited from owning any firearms.

According to court documents, Armstrong didn’t bother to deny possessing the weapon. He freely admitted to having the shotgun despite being well aware of his legal limitations. This blatant disregard for the law triggered the ATF investigation, which quickly solidified the case against him. The feds didn’t waste much time; Armstrong pleaded guilty on November 10, 2022.

Chief Judge Ronald A. White of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma handed down the sentence. The 12-month sentence is non-parolable, meaning Armstrong won’t be eligible for early release. He’s currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter prosecuted the case, building a solid argument that Armstrong’s actions posed a risk to public safety. While a single shotgun may seem like a small piece of the puzzle, federal officials emphasize that every illegal firearm kept off the streets makes a difference. The ATF’s Dallas Field Division oversaw the operation.

Armstrong’s case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm with a prior felony conviction carries serious consequences. The Eastern District of Oklahoma, like many jurisdictions across the country, is cracking down on these offenses, aiming to keep weapons out of the hands of those legally barred from owning them. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal firearms prosecutions in Oklahoma and beyond.

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