Kansas man sentenced for drug and firearm possession

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas man who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase across state lines was sentenced to 132 months in prison for illegal drug and firearms possession.

According to court documents, Marquis V. Bridgeman, 28, of Mission pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a machine gun and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

In December 2024, Bridgeman committed a drive by shooting in Kansas City, Kansas, involving another driver. The other driver wasn't injured. The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) traced the license plate to an apartment in Mission, Kansas, where they spotted the vehicle used in the shooting. Investigators saw Bridgeman exit the apartment and drive away in another vehicle. When a trooper attempted to stop Bridgeman, he led a high-speed chase across the state line and into Kansas City, Missouri. Eventually, law enforcement used tactical intervention to disable the vehicle and took Bridgeman into custody.

Inside the vehicle Bridgeman was driving during the chase, officers found keys to the other vehicle and two firearms, one of which was a Glock with a Glock-switch making it function as a machine gun. By comparing the casings recovered from the drive by shooting, investigators determined the Glock to be the weapon fired at the victim. Law enforcement searched the vehicle used in the drive by shooting and found a pistol and a bag with 140 grams in fentanyl. Inside Bridgeman's apartment troopers found six firearms, approximately 98 grams of cocaine, 1,396 fentanyl pills, and approximately $50,000 in cash.

"While drug dealers with guns always cause grave concern, we are further alarmed seeing more criminals with firearms that are illegally converted into machine guns capable of firing more rounds and causing more destruction within a short time," said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. "Some people apparently think these illegal machine gun conversion devices are fun to collect and use; however, they are likely committing federal crimes without being properly licensed and could end up spending a good amount of time in federal prison."

The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel prosecuted the case.

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