Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Columbia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting at a local gas station has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm.

Turbo Lindsey Midgyett, 31, of Columbia, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth on Monday, April 3,2017, to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the plea agreement, Columbia police officers responded to a gas station in the 1400 block of Rangeline on March 6, 2016, where shots had reportedly been fired. Officers located two cars with damage from gunfire and found three 9mm casings. Video from the gas station showed a man pulling out a firearm, which appeared to misfire, then showed Midgyett racking a handgun and firing in the direction of the first shooter.

Officers went to Midgyett’s residence and spoke with his girlfriend, who told officers that Midgyett is allowed to use her gun and vehicle, and that the gun was usually in the glove box. Officers looked in the glove box and found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, which had three rounds missing. The brand of ammunition in the firearm was the same as the three rounds found at the shooting scene. Midgyett was arrested.

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

Under federal statutes, Midgyett is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 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 Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.