Independence Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

Christopher A. Durant, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Wimes to 84 months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Durant pleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2025.

In Oct. 2021, Durant was federally convicted of arson for attempting to burn down a church and sentenced to over five years in federal prison. Less than two months after his release from that sentence, at around 2:00am on May 13, 2025, Durant was seen walking through the street in Independence firing a gun in the air. As a convicted felon, Durant was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. When police arrived, Durant ran. During his flight from law enforcement, Durant threw the gun near the sidewalk on a church campus.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo. 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.