U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
District of Kansas

District of Kansas

www.justice.gov/usao/ks

For Immediate Release

June 11, 2012

Topeka Man Gets Six Years On Firearms Charge

TOPEKA, KAN. — A Topeka man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison on a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Tommy Lynn Sherrill, 43, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. In his plea, he admitted that on Oct. 19, 2010, Topeka police officers knocked on his motel room door. Sherrill and a companion ducked into an alcove and refused to step forward and show their hands. Officers found a firearm and ammunition within a few feet of Sherrill. Testing showed Sherrill’s DNA on the magazine. At the time, Sherrill was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction.

Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot for their work on the case.

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