KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm.

Alfonso M. Tunley, 34, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2010, to 10 years in federal prison without parole, which is the statutory maximum penalty.

On Feb. 2, 2010, Tunley pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Tunley admitted that he was in possession of a Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 16, 2008.

Tunley was arrested by Kansas City police officers who responded to a report of a shooting in the area of his residence at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2008. Tunley was walking down the sidewalk when the officers ordered him to show his hands. He began to walk toward the officers, who saw a handgun with blood on it in the area of the sidewalk where Tunley had been walking.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to possess any firearm or ammunition. Tunley has a prior felony conviction for robbery.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. 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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