KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a stark reminder of the consequences of illegal firearm possession, William N. Brown, 54, from Leeton, Missouri, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs came as no surprise given Brown’s status as an armed career criminal with a history of prior felony convictions.
Brown had pleaded guilty on February 13, 2025, to being a felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal. The evidence against him was compelling: a Benelli 12-gauge shotgun with the serial number filed off and modifications made to both the barrel and butt stock, sawed down to make it more concealable.
The incident that led to Brown’s arrest unfolded on February 26, 2024. Neighbors witnessed Brown walking towards their home carrying a machete and the modified shotgun. The Johnson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office acted swiftly, securing a search warrant for Brown’s residence where they found the firearm hidden in a seating bench.
Under federal law, it is a serious offense for anyone with a felony conviction to possess a firearm or ammunition. Brown’s extensive criminal record included two felony convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, four felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon – exhibiting, two felony convictions for tampering, three felony convictions for driving while revoked or suspended, and convictions for assault, arson, burglary, stealing, possession of a controlled substance, and damage to jail property.
This sentence is the result of a thorough investigation by the Johnson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office and the dedicated efforts of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. The case is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at eliminating cartels, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and violent crime in our communities.
Operation Take Back America leverages resources from various Department of Justice initiatives, including the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Brown’s sentence is a clear demonstration of the commitment to protect our neighborhoods from violent criminals like him.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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