Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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.

Reginald Cole, 26, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Cole was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

On Nov. 14, 2013, Cole pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Cole admitted that he was in possession of an Auto Ordinance .45-caliber handgun on Oct. 11, 2012. Cole sold the firearm to an undercover law enforcement officer during an undercover operation by the ATF and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Cole has three prior felony convictions for burglary.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/index.html

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