JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Hannibal, Mo., man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of illegally possessing a sawed-off shotgun.

David Lee Ardrey, 44, of Hannibal, was found guilty of both counts contained in a Sept. 2, 2011, federal indictment. Ardrey was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and of illegally possessing a sawed-off shotgun.

Ardrey was arrested on June 8, 2011, during a traffic stop in which he was the passenger in the vehicle. Ardrey provided law enforcement officers with false identification, including a driver’s license and Social Security card in the name of another person (who was deceased). Ardrey grabbed the arresting officer’s uniform and ripped his shirt, after which he was subdued and handcuffed. Ardrey refused to get into the patrol vehicle and had to be pulled into the vehicle by an officer in the back seat. While officers searched the vehicle in which Ardrey was riding, he tried to escape from the patrol vehicle by kicking out the window. Officers pushed him back into the vehicle, but when they opened the door he attempted to push past the officers. While officers held him on the ground and placed leg restraints on him, Ardrey continued kicking at the officers. One of the officers went to the hospital for treatment of possible broken fingers after Ardrey caught and held them in the handcuff chain during the struggle.

Law enforcement officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded, sawed-off Rossi .410 shotgun that belonged to Ardrey, as well as seven shotgun shells.

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

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., deliberated for less than two hours before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. Chief District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, ending a trial that began Monday, June 4, 2012.

Under federal statutes, Ardrey is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000. 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 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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