KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, 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.

Joseph M. Mabery, 31, no known address, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison without parole. Mabery was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

On May 4, 2011, Mabery was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Mabery was arrested on April 14, 2010. Kansas City police officers saw a vehicle parked behind a known drug house, and as they approached the vehicle, Mabery fled on foot. When he was apprehended, officers discovered a Davis Industries .32-caliber semi-automatic pistol in his right front 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. Mabery has two prior felony convictions for aggravated battery, as well as prior felony convictions for aggravated escape and tampering.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce E. Clark. 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.

Return to Top