SPRINGFIELD, MO. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Missouri, Western), published as received.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo, man pleaded guilty in federal court today for felon in possession of a firearm that was a part of Operation Spring Cleaning.

Mitchell D. Gibbs, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr. to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the plea agreement, Joplin, Missouri Police officers responded to a report of gun shots. Upon arrival, officers conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of a local storage facility.  The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Mitchell D. Gibbs. As officers investigated the shots fired report, they located an empty shell casing near the storage unit owned by Gibbs. Officers then observed a handgun that was partially underneath the driver’s seat of Gibbs’ vehicle.

Gibbs was found in possession of two firearms, At the time of his plea, Gibbs admitted that he knew he was a convicted felon and that he knowingly possessed firearms in violation of federal law.

Under federal statutes, Gibbs is subject to sentences of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Joplin, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).