SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing ammunition.

Tony L. Friend, 45, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 to four years and nine months in federal prison without parole.

On Sept. 12, 2012 Friend pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Law enforcement officers, who identified Friend during an investigation into the deaths of Russell and Rebecca Porter of Willard, Mo., seized three shotgun shells when they executed a search warrant at Friend’s residence on May 23, 2012.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

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