KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., woman who was formerly on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing a firearm.

Shauntay Henderson, 29, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

By pleading guilty today, Henderson admitted that she was in possession of a Taurus .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on Sept. 15, 2010. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Henderson has prior felony convictions for voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance at a Kansas City, Mo., residence on Sept. 15, 2010, due to recent drug activity and gang violence. During the surveillance, officers saw Henderson arrive at the house. Moments later, she left the residence and got into the front passenger seat of the black Kia Sportage that she had arrived in. An unidentified female drove the vehicle to the Wal-Mart at 11601 E. 40 Hwy., Kansas City. Officers watched the two women enter the store; when they returned to the vehicle, officers activated their red lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle didn’t stop, the affidavit says, and instead fled through the Wal-Mart parking lot and into the Lowe’s parking lot. Officers pursued the vehicle. When the vehicle stopped behind the Lowe’s store, Henderson got out and started running. The officers pursued Henderson on foot, the affidavit says, and saw her remove a handgun from her right front pants pocket and drop it on the ground. An officer retrieved the firearm as other officers continued the pursuit to the back yard of a nearby residence, where Henderson was detained.

Under federal statutes, Henderson 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 Stefan Hughes. 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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