Kansas City Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Mo., Man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a Beretta, PX4 Storm, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Craig D. Monks, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 4 years in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Oct. 2, 2024, Independence, Missouri Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on Monks's vehicle due to expired tags. A patrol officer noticed a firearm lodged between the driver's seat and center console and asked Monks if there was a firearm in the vehicle. Monks responded that there was a firearm "right here." The officer asked Monks to exit the vehicle and then the officer secured the firearm for officer safety. The officer conducted a subsequent criminal background check and discovered that Monks had a prior felony conviction. Later, the officer learned Monks was a convicted felon. In a subsequent interview, Monks admitted to possessing the firearm and stated that he thought it was a "dumb" rule that felons could not possess firearms. It is against federal law for a convicted felon to knowingly possess a firearm.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo. Police Department and further assistance was provided by the Kearney, 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.