Kansas City Man Sentenced to 5 1/2 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for illegally possessing a stolen Taurus 9mm handgun.

Zyair J. Taylor, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to sixty-six months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On May 21, 2025, officers conducted surveillance of a residence in the 400 block of Lawn Avenue, Kansas City, Mo., to arrest Taylor for his outstanding warrants. When Taylor exited the residence and saw officers, he fled on foot. During the foot chase, Taylor retrieved from his jacket a black handgun with a large drum magazine. Despite commands from officers to drop the gun, Taylor threw the handgun over his head as he continued to run. Thereafter, Taylor was physically combative with officers as they attempted to place him under arrest. Following arrest, officers retrieved the handgun, a Taurus, Model G3c 9mm handgun that was loaded with one round in the chamber and 49 rounds in the drum magazine. The firearm had been reported stolen in 2023 from Columbia, Mo.

Taylor, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of five prior felony offenses before yesterday's hearing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri 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.