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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his illegal possession of a firearm.

Douglas Dockery, Jr., 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to one year imprisonment to be followed by three years of post-conviction supervision for being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm. Dockery was charged as a part of Operation Spring Cleaning, that was coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri and law enforcement across southwest Missouri.

On Jan. 3, 2026, Dockery was contacted by Ozark, Mo. police officers during an investigation into a recent theft at a local Walmart. During that contact, Dockery admitted to law enforcement there was a .45 caliber firearm within his vehicle. After consenting to a search, law enforcement located a Tisas .45 caliber M1911-A1 firearm, matching the description he had provided to officers. During the search, officers found a .22 caliber semiautomatic firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and marijuana. Dockery was sentenced within a guideline range sentence of 12 months’ and one day imprisonment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by three years of post-release supervision, and payment of a $100 Special Assessment as required by law.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.