Jury Convicts KC Man of Illegal Firearm

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Eric M. Wiley, 30, of Kansas City, was found guilty of the charge contained in a May 22, 2014, federal indictment.

On May 11, 2014, Kansas City, Mo., police officers were dispatched to the BP gas station/convenience store at East 39th Street and Hardesty in response to a report of man brandishing a firearm during an argument about his pit bull dog running loose. When Wiley saw the officers approach the convenience store, he let go of the leash attached to his dog and fled on foot. A foot chase ensued. The pursuing officers saw Wiley grab the right side of his waist.  Wiley’s jersey was untucked and hung over the waist band of his pants. As Wiley held his right side, the pursuing officers saw that he was holding a bulky item under the shirt.

Wiley fell to the ground. As he was falling, one of the officers saw something fall from his clothing. After Wiley was apprehended and arrested a short distance away from the spot where he fell, officers searched the area and found a loaded Jennings Firearms .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun with the serial number filed off.

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

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about 90 minutes before returning the verdict to U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, Dec. 8, 2014.

Under federal statutes, Wiley 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 William L. Meiners and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.