NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
BETH PHILLIPS
Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106
www.justice.gov/index.html
JUNE 10, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JURY CONVICTS REPUBLIC MAN FOR ILLEGALLY
POSSESSING AMMUNITION
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Republic, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today for illegally possessing ammunition.
James Hopkins, 44, of Republic, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
During the execution of a search warrant at Hopkins’ residence, a Greene County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy recovered 19 rounds of ammunition in a cabinet drawer in the master 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. Hopkins has prior felony convictions for receiving stolen property and possessing methamphetamine.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield deliberated approximately five hours before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr, ending a trial that began Wednesday, June 9, 2010.
Under federal statutes, Hopkins is 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 James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
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