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Press Release

Columbia Man Charged with Illegal Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing firearms and ammunition that had been stolen in a recent burglary.

Deangelo Wayne Joe, Jr., 23, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Columbia police officers responded to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of The Links apartment complex in the 1500 block of Clark Lane at approximately 11:42 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, 2018. When they arrived, the officers located Joe and told him to put his hands up. Joe looked at the officers and took off running into an apartment in the complex.

Police officers surrounded the building. For approximately 30 minutes, officers gave commands over the PA for the residents to exit the apartment into which Joe had run. When Joe exited the apartment he was arrested on outstanding warrants. Officers who searched him found .22-caliber ammunition, including a fired shell casing, in his pants pocket.

Officers searched the apartment and found a stolen Browning .22-caliber handgun and a stolen FMK .22-caliber rifle. In a bedroom closet they also found a range bag, which contained multiple rounds of .22-caliber ammunition. Both firearms and the range bag full of ammunition were reported stolen in a July 8, 2018, burglary.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Joe has two prior felony convictions for burglary.

The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
 

Updated July 12, 2018

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods