Walter Tyndal, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Missouri 2024

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Walter Tyndal, 59, of Springfield, Missouri, will spend the next 15 years in federal prison after being sentenced today for illegally possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes delivered the sentence, classifying Tyndal as an armed career criminal due to a rap sheet stretching back decades. This federal sentence will run consecutively to any time he receives for a separate parole violation in another state – meaning Tyndal isn’t getting a break.

The case stemmed from a November 23, 2021, arrest. Springfield Police, acting on an active warrant for Tyndal’s parole violation, found more than just a parole breach. Tucked in the back left pocket of his pants was a Bearman 9mm Derringer pistol. A bag of marijuana was found in his front pocket, adding another layer to his legal troubles, though the firearm charge proved to be the sticking point.

Federal law is clear: convicted felons aren’t allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. And Tyndal isn’t just any convicted felon. His record is a laundry list of violent offenses. Court documents reveal three prior convictions for armed criminal action, three for robbery, two for stealing, two for burglary, and even a prior conviction for possessing marijuana inside a correctional facility. The prosecution successfully argued this pattern of criminal behavior warranted the maximum sentence.

Tyndal pleaded guilty on December 14, 2023, to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries a significant penalty, especially for repeat offenders like Tyndal. Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher spearheaded the prosecution, working in conjunction with investigators from the Springfield Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Federal officials are framing the case as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategically targeting enforcement efforts.

While the PSN initiative touts community engagement, the outcome for Walter Tyndal is starkly clear: 15 years in federal prison. The ATF’s Kansas City Field Division investigated the case. For Tyndal, it’s a grim reminder that a lifetime of criminal activity carries a heavy price, and in this instance, it’s a decade and a half behind bars. The case highlights the federal government’s continued focus on keeping firearms out of the hands of those with a proven history of violence.

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