Wichita Man Becomes 20th Defendant to Plead Guilty from ATF Sting Operation in Wichita
WICHITA, KAN. — A Wichita man has pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge, becoming the 20th defendant so far to plead guilty in federal court as a result of a sting operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
D’Andre Tomlin, 22, Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. In his plea, he admitted that on Sept. 9, 2011, he possessed a Heckler and Koch 9 mm pistol.
He is set for sentencing April 25. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Tomlin was one of 67 defendants who were arrested on state or federal charges as a result of an 11’month ATF operation aimed at taking guns out of the hands of convicted felons. U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom announced the charges Sept. 22, 2011, in Wichita. Of those arrested, 52 were charged in federal court. Agencies cooperating in the investigation included the ATF, the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office and the Wichita Area Gun Task Force.
Other defendants who have pleaded guilty so far include:
- Kwamain Baker, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Sentencing set for April 11.
- Victor Baxter, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Sentencing date pending.
- Kevin Brainard, two counts of distributing marijuana. Sentencing set for April 2.
- Rashaad Colbert, unlawful possession of a silencer. Sentencing is set for April 9.
- Edward Dodd, unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Sentencing is set for Feb. 15.
- Antoine Edwards, unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Sentencing is set for Feb. 13.
- Tamika Gasper, unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Sentencing is set for April 9.
- Richard Heffelman, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Sentencing is set for April 4.
- Ivan Hollinger, unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun. Sentencing is set for April 11.
- Keandre Johnson, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Sentencing is set for April 9.
- George M. Kirksey, distribution of marijuana. Sentencing is set for March 21.
- Jeremy E. Love, unlawful transfer of a sawed off shotgun. Sentencing is set for March 22.
- Michael C. Mason, unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. Sentencing is set for March 14.
- Michael T. Oliver, unlawful possession of firearms after a felony conviction. Sentencing is set for April 17.
- Kenneth Palmer, unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. Sentencing is set for April 9.
- Benjamin T. Perry, unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.
- Steven A. Peters, unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. Sentencing is pending.
- Michael R. Stieb, food stamp fraud. Sentenced to three years probation.
- Haussan Thomas, one count of distributing crack cocaine, one count of unlawful transfer of a sawed off shotgun, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Sentencing is set for Feb. 16.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the ATF and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on this case.
###