Springfield Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Springfield, Mo., resident, was sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm.

Joseph Bradley Garrison, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 46 months imprisonment for his illegal possession of a firearm. Judge Bough also ordered the sentence to run consecutively with his prior state conviction in Lawrence County, Mo., case number 12LW-CR01381, for second degree burglary, stealing, and tampering with a motor vehicle.

On June 30, 2023, Springfield, Mo., police officers conducted a traffic stop of Garrison, as he was walking in the street despite a sidewalk being present. As they contacted Garrison, he was asked if he had anything illegal or dangerous on him. Garrison admitted he had a firearm on his person, but that the firearm did not work. Officers conducted a search of Garrison and found a firearm and a small improvised explosive device. Upon review, the explosive device was safety denotated by the Springfield, Mo,, Fire Marshal. Law enforcement then evaluated the firearm found on Garrison's person and it was determined that the firearm could readily be repaired and returned to a functional status. Officers confirmed Garrison was a convicted felon, with two prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, as well as 11 other felony offenses for various crimes that include first degree assault, burglary, resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and forgery. Any of these felony convictions made Garrison a prohibited person from possessing either the firearm or the improvised explosive device.

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