Grandview Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grandview, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

John L. Arrocha, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 5 years in federal prison without parole.  On Jan. 29, 2025, Arrocha pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 2, 2024, Kansas City, Missouri Police officers were called to a business in the 4300 block of Main Street, Kansas City, Mo., on a reported trespasser causing a disturbance.  Upon arrival, officers encountered Arrocha, who refused to leave the business property.  As officers attempted to arrest Arrocha for trespassing, Arrocha resisted while making threats to kill the officers that were arresting him.  During a search of Arrocha following arrest, officers found a North American Arms, Guardian .380 caliber pistol which had been reported stolen out of Claycomo, Mo.  A criminal history check revealed that Arrocha was a convicted felon.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.