Kansas City, Kansas Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Ks., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a Glock .45 caliber handgun.

Aaron T. Fant, 35, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to 12 years (144 months) in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On March 20, 2023, Fant attempted to push his way into the apartment of a female acquaintance. As the adult female resisted and tried to close the door, Fant punched the female in the chest to gain entry. The adult female's 16-year-old son tried to intervene, stepping between his mother and Fant. Fant then produced a black and silver handgun from his waistband and struck the juvenile in the head with the firearm. The adult female was able to push Fant back from the doorway and lock the door. As Fant walked away, he yelled, "If you call the police, I will kill you." The juvenile was transported to Children's Mercy Hospital where he received three staples to close the wound.

On March 29, 2023, Fant was arrested following a prolonged standoff with law enforcement at a hotel he was staying at in Kansas City, Mo. During the standoff, Fant made several threatening statements, including "I have a gun," "I'm armed," "You'll have to kill me" and "Come in and get me." Ultimately law enforcement deployed a gas projectile through the window of the hotel room, and Fant came out of the room without further incident. In Fant's vehicle at the hotel, officers located a Glock, Model 37 Gen 4, .45 caliber handgun that was loaded.

Fant, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of nineteen prior felony offenses.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.