Thomas Christopher Joseph Sentenced to 15 Years on Firearm Charge

BROKEN BOW, OKLAHOMA — Thomas Christopher Joseph, 51, is headed to federal prison for 180 months after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, a violation of federal law due to his violent criminal past. The sentence, handed down in federal court in Muskogee, marks the latest enforcement action under the Department of Justice’s push to lock up repeat offenders who endanger communities with guns.

Joseph was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, specifically an SCCY Model CPX-1, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, serial number 247149. The weapon, investigators confirmed, had moved in interstate commerce — a key element in elevating the crime to a federal offense. The arrest stemmed from a joint probe by the Broken Bow Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which zeroed in on Joseph’s possession of the handgun on or about January 8, 2018.

Records show Joseph’s criminal record includes prior convictions for Second Degree Robbery and Second Degree Burglary — violent felonies that automatically strip an individual of their right to possess firearms under federal law. Despite that, he was found with the loaded 9mm, triggering immediate federal charges. Prosecutors made no concessions, arguing for a lengthy sentence to reflect the danger posed by armed felons.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean Burris, who emphasized that Joseph’s possession of the firearm was not a technical violation but a clear threat. “This wasn’t a paperwork error — it was a dangerous man with a loaded gun and a history of violence,” Burris said during sentencing proceedings. “He made a choice to break the law, and now he’ll pay for it behind bars.”

U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester pointed to the conviction as a win under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a DOJ initiative targeting violent offenders through federal-local partnerships. “This investigation and prosecution was the result of collaborative efforts to reduce gun violence in our communities,” Kuester said. “Felonious possession of firearms is a top priority — and today’s sentence sends a message.”

Judge Ronald A. White, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee. In addition to 15 years in federal prison, Joseph was ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon his eventual return to society. For now, the Broken Bow resident vanishes into the federal system — a repeat offender with a gun, paying the price in full.

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