Jury Convicts KC Man of Illegal Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been convicted by a federal trial jury of illegally possessing a firearm.

Emmanuel Robinson, 35, was found guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Robinson, a convicted felon, was in possession of a Taurus .40-caliber handgun on March 10, 2017.

Kansas City police detectives were contacting another individual on an unrelated matter on that date when an altercation occurred between that individual and Robinson. During the altercation, Robinson pushed the other individual and made motions towards his front waistband. The detectives identified themselves and Robinson started to walk away but kept his hands near his front waistband. Both Robinson and the other individual were detained in order to control the situation. During a search, a detective found the loaded handgun concealed in the waistband of Robinson’s pants.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Robinson has two prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and prior felony convictions for robbery, domestic assault, endangering the welfare of a child, assault, and armed criminal action.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for less than half an hour before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018.

Under federal statutes, Robinson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life 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. Attorneys Brad K. Kavanaugh and Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.