NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

APRIL 22, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROJECT CEASEFIRE

JURY CONVICTS KC MAN OF ILLEGALLY

POSSESSING A FIREARM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted by a federal jury today of illegally possessing a firearm.

Darnell Rodgers, 34, of Kansas City, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During the execution of a search warrant at Rodgers’ residence on Jan. 15, 2008, Kansas City police officers discovered a loaded Mossberg 12-gauge pistol-grip shotgun in a bedroom closet. Officers also discovered a bag containing 43 live rounds of .380 ammunition and two 12-gauge shotgun shells under a bunk bed in a child’s bedroom.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Rodgers has prior felony convictions for driving while intoxicated and unlawful use of a weapon.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City deliberated less than two hours before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple, ending a trial that began Monday, April 21, 2008.

Under federal statutes, Rodgers could be subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Barnes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Ceasefire

Project Ceasefire, launched in October 1999, is a cooperative initiative by federal and local law enforcement and the Kansas City Crime Commission that targets for federal prosecution persons who unlawfully use or possess firearms.

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