SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Willow Springs, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing several firearms.

Robert Keith Cravens, 30, of Willow Springs, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 18 years in federal prison without parole. Cravens was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

On Aug. 24, 2010, Cravens pleaded guilty to being a felon and an unlawful user of methamphetamine and marijuana while in possession of firearms. Cravens admitted that he was in possession of a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, a Laurona side-by-side 12-gauge shotgun, a Browning .22-caliber pistol and a Beretta .25-caliber pistol on Feb. 24, 2008.

Cravens also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after three previous convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. Cravens admitted that he was in possession of a Hi-Point .380-caliber pistol on Oct. 1, 2009.

The two shotguns and the Browning pistol were stolen from a Howell County, Mo., residence during a burglary on Feb. 24, 2008. The Beretta pistol was stolen from another Howell County residence during a burglary that occurred on the same day. Cravens was arrested a few hours later after a citizen called to report a person who had come to her house wanting to make a phone call. Cravens had the two pistols in his possession at the time of his arrest; both firearms were loaded and had the serial numbers ground off.

Cravens was arrested again on Oct. 1, 2009, when a Camden County, Mo., deputy responded to a call about a suspicious person asleep in a vehicle in the parking lot of Cedar Heights Condominiums. The deputy tapped on the window and awakened Cravens. As Cravens searched his pockets for a driver’s license, a syringe with no needle fell out of his pocket. The deputy directed Cravens to get out of the car and searched the vehicle. The loaded Hi-Point pistol, which had been reported stolen, was found on the floorboard behind driver’s seat.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony, or who is an unlawful user of controlled substances, to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Cravens has two prior felony convictions for burglary, as well as prior felony convictions for assaulting a law enforcement officer, resisting/interfering with arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Garrison. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Howell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Camden County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

 

 

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