U.S. Department
of Justice
KC Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Illegal Firearm Used to Threaten, Beat Woman
Project Safe Childhood
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm that he used to threaten and beat a woman.
Jervonz L. Williams, 37, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 19 years in federal prison without parole. Williams was sentenced as an armed career offender due to his prior felony convictions.
On Nov. 14, 2012, Williams pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Williams admitted that he was in possession of a Smith and Wesson .38-caliber revolver.
According to court documents, Williams attacked a woman near a parking lot at 70th and Troost on May 4, 2012, striking her in the back of the head with the revolver and repeatedly kicking her and striking her with his hands and with a green glass bottle until she was unconscious. Two witnesses saw Williams point the gun at his victim’s head. One of the witnesses reported that Williams put the gun to the victim’s head and said, “I ought to blow your … brains out.” Williams also pulled the handgun from his pocket and pointed it in the direction of one of the witnesses. Witnesses called the police, who arrested Williams and found the revolver in his pocket.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Williams has five prior felony convictions, including three prior felony convictions for burglary and prior felony convictions for aggravated sexual battery and robbery.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Ceasefire
Project Ceasefire, launched in October 1999, is a cooperative initiative by federal and local law enforcement and the Kansas City Crime Commission that targets for federal prosecution persons who unlawfully use or possess firearms.