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.

            Horacio D. Hill, 46, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Hill was sentenced as an armed career offender due to his prior felony convictions.

            On Sept. 6, 2011, Hill pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, police officers heard shots being fired in the area of 43rd Street and Tracy in Kansas City on May 23, 2010. When they went to investigate, officers saw Hill holding a handgun. Hill fled on foot from police officers. During the chase, Hill threw a handgun into a wooded area. Officers took Hill into custody, then found the Star .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol where Hill had thrown it.

            Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hill has prior felony convictions for attempted robbery, attempted burglary, stealing from a person, robbery, trafficking drugs and possession of a controlled substance.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Y. Tabor. 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.

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