JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Malik Rashod Miller, 25, of Jefferson City, Missouri, is headed to federal prison for over a decade after being sentenced to 15 years and eight months for illegally possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark handed down the sentence, classifying Miller as an armed career criminal due to a rap sheet stretching back years.
The bust originated late one night, October 20, 2021, when Jefferson City police discovered a vehicle parked inside a closed city park. Miller, a passenger in the car, attempted to exit, conspicuously leaving behind a black satchel. A search of that bag revealed 10.2 grams of methamphetamine and rocks of crack cocaine. A separate search of Miller’s person uncovered another golf-ball-sized lump of meth. But the real trouble came from under the passenger seat – a loaded Charter Arms .38-special revolver.
Even before the gun was found, Miller seemed to know his luck had run out. Dashcam footage from the police cruiser captured Miller muttering, “Don’t find the gun; please don’t find the gun,” as officers processed the scene. Moments later, as the revolver was recovered, he shouted from the back of the patrol car, predicting, “They found the gun…I’m going away for a long time.” He wasn’t wrong.
Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms. Miller wasn’t just any felon; he had prior convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and delivery of a controlled substance, both with suspended sentences. He was on state supervision at the time of his latest offense. Court documents paint a picture of a man with a history of violent behavior, including threats, stalking, and assault – a pattern frequently involving firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer prosecuted the case, building it on evidence gathered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Jefferson City Police Department. The sentencing is being touted as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.
PSN, recently bolstered by a Department of Justice strategy launched in May 2021, focuses on building trust with communities, supporting violence prevention programs, prioritizing enforcement, and tracking results. While the program’s long-term effectiveness remains a subject of debate, in this case, it helped put a repeat offender behind bars for a substantial stretch. Miller’s future looks bleak, a stark reminder that possessing an illegal firearm carries severe consequences.
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- Keith R. Hardin, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Kansas City MO, … · Kansas
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