SPRINGFIELD, MO. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Missouri, Western), published as received.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today as an armed career criminal who illegally possessed firearms and ammunition.
Christopher M. Behn, 39, of Springfield, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.
Today’s indictment alleges that Behn was in possession of a Harrington & Richardson pump model .12-gauge shotgun, a New England Firearms .410-gauge shotgun, a Mossberg .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle, a Springfield Armory .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Taurus .38-caliber revolver, a Citadel .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol, a DSA .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle and ammunition on Nov. 6, 2015.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Due to his prior felony convictions, Behn is charged as an armed career criminal, which upon conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole.
Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
