Steven Ray Dennis, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Missouri 2020

Defendant Sentenced for Possession of Stolen Firearm in Missouri

A Missouri federal court has handed down a sentence to Steven Ray Dennis, 35, for possession of a stolen firearm. Dennis was found guilty in 2020 and received 120 months in federal prison without parole.

According to court documents, the investigation began when an officer with the Columbia, Mo. Police Department received a tip from private security for a local bar that a man in a Chicago Bulls hat and jacket was going to his vehicle to get a firearm. The officer located Dennis, who matched the description, and asked if he had any guns on him. However, Dennis began to run when questioned, leading to a brief foot chase during which he discarded his hat and jacket.

When officers located the Chicago Bulls jacket, it contained a .32 caliber revolver in the pocket. The revolver was stolen and loaded with five rounds of ammunition. Dennis also had prior felony convictions, which further complicated the situation.

Dennis pleaded guilty in 2020, but government court filings indicate that he failed to report and became a fugitive until he was arrested in the Chicago area in January 2025. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on core principles including fostering trust and legitimacy, supporting community-based organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

With this sentence, the community can rest assured that justice has been served. The Columbia, Mo. Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives worked together to investigate this case, and their efforts have paid off with a guilty verdict and a sentence that reflects the severity of the crime.

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