EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A U.S. District Judge sentenced a man to 90 months in federal prison after he was found by police with a loaded weapon while working as a cook at the Collinsville Jack in the Box in April 2022.

Tony Ross, 27, pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the prison sentence, he received three years of supervised release, a $100 fine, and $100 in special assessments.

“In an effort to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, convicted felons forgo their right to lawfully possess a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This offender had a lengthy criminal history related to gun violence, and I appreciate the diligent work by ATF agents and troopers with ISP to remove this defendant and his firearm from the Metro East.”

“At the core of ATF’s mission to protect the public, is holding accountable those who violate federal firearms laws,” said Butch Hansen, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division. “As this case demonstrates, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of the communities we serve.”

“Getting repeat criminal offenders who threaten the safety of our communities off the streets is a top priority for the Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group,” said ISP Zone 6 Commander Mike Lewis. “Aggressive investigation and prosecution of criminals are vital to reducing violence in our neighborhoods.”

According to court documents, law enforcement personnel with the Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group entered Jack in the Box in April 2022 to question Ross about an unrelated investigation. When Ross saw police enter the restaurant, he tried to conceal his gun by removing it from his waistband and hiding it under the deep fryer. 

At the time of this incident, Ross was on parole with the Missouri Department of Corrections for a felony conviction of 2nd Degree Robbery from 2018.

The investigation was conducted by ISP’s Public Safety Enforcement Group and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns prosecuted the case.