OMAHA, NE – Kristen M. Patterson, 40, is facing a decade behind bars after a federal jury found her guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The conviction comes after a two-day trial in U.S. District Court, and Judge Brian C. Buescher has set sentencing for May 3, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Unlike state systems, the federal government doesn’t offer parole, meaning Patterson will serve the full sentence if handed the maximum.
The bust went down back on April 7, 2021, around 2 a.m. when Omaha Police officers spotted a black GMC Sierra with a trailer attached at the Extra Space Storage facility. Something didn’t sit right – the truck wasn’t running, the lights were off. A check on the trailer revealed it had been reported stolen on February 27, 2021, immediately raising the stakes.
Officers attempted to make contact via the PA system, but received no response. As they approached the vehicle, they took Patterson, the driver, into custody without incident. Both the trailer and the GMC were impounded, and a standard inventory search was conducted. That’s when they found it: a Bersa Thunder 380 CC firearm tucked away in a storage pocket on the driver’s side center console.
The discovery triggered the federal charge because of Patterson’s extensive criminal history. Court records show prior felony convictions for unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and – tellingly – a prior conviction for possession of a firearm or money during a drug trafficking offense. That history legally barred her from owning or possessing any firearm.
The case was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Omaha Police Department. Agents from the ATF’s Kansas City Field Division spearheaded the investigation, working alongside local law enforcement to build the case against Patterson. U.S. Attorney Steven Russell’s office prosecuted the case, securing the guilty verdict after presenting evidence to the jury.
While the initial stop involved a stolen trailer, the firearm charge proved to be the more serious offense. Patterson now awaits sentencing, facing up to ten years in federal prison. The case serves as a stark reminder that those with felony convictions who illegally possess firearms will face the full weight of federal law, and a lengthy prison term. The Department of Justice has not released information about potential co-defendants or further investigation into the stolen trailer.
Related Federal Cases
- Kristen Patterson, Felon with Firearm, Omaha NE, 2023 · Kansas
- Justin Coleman, Felon with Firearm, Omaha NE, 2023 · Kansas
- Derek Barbour, Addict with Firearm, Omaha NE, 2023 · Kansas
- Jeff Landry, Firearm Purchase Tracking, Louisiana 2024 · Alaska
- Mar D. Maluoth, Machine Gun Possession, Omaha NE, 2023 · Kansas
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