JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Hannibal, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing a firearm.

David Lee Ardrey, 43, of Hannibal, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo.

Ardrey is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and with possessing a sawed-off shotgun. Today’s indictment alleges that Ardrey was in possession of a sawed-off Rossi .410-gauge shotgun on June 8, 2011.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. According to the indictment, Ardrey has two prior felony convictions for burglary, two prior felony convictions for assault, and prior felony convictions for armed criminal action, stealing and receiving stolen property.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Centralia, Mo., Police Department, the Hallsville, Mo., Police Department and the Sturgeon, Mo., Police Department.

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