Leeton Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Illegal Firearm

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

William N. Brown, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Brown was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

On Feb. 13, 2025, Brown pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal. Brown admitted he was in possession of a Benelli 12-gauge shotgun with the serial number filed off, on Feb. 26, 2024. The shotgun was modified with both the barrel and butt stock sawed off.

Brown was arrested on Feb. 26, 2024, after witnesses reported seeing Brown walk to a neighbor's house carrying a machete and a shotgun. Deputies of the Johnson County, Missouri Sheriff's Office were granted a search warrant to search Brown's residence and located the shotgun in a seating bench with a storage location.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Brown has two felony convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm, two felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon - exhibiting, two felony convictions for tampering, two felony convictions for driving while revoked or suspended, as well as felony convictions for assault, arson, burglary, stealing, possession of a controlled substance, and damage to jail property.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Johnson County, Missouri Sheriff's Office.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).