KC Reporter

A Springfield, Mo., man who was a leader in a violent gang and part of a rap group was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms.

Ezekiel Josiah King, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to six years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On Jan. 16, 2024, King pleaded guilty to one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms. King admitted he was in possession of a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine that contained 29 rounds and an Anderson AM-15 multi-caliber rifle loaded with 31 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition.

King was driving a gold Nissan Altima that was stopped by Springfield police detectives on Feb. 15, 2022, for multiple traffic violations. King told officers he was driving erratically because he believed a rival gang was chasing him. In addition to the firearms, detectives found marijuana in the vehicle, as well as another extended magazine and two factory Glock magazines under the driver’s seat.

According to court documents, King – a leader of the FTO gang – engaged in a series of violent firearm offenses, many of which were part of a feud with a rival gang. In another traffic stop of a vehicle in which King was a passenger on Oct. 23, 2022, law enforcement officers seized a loaded Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 AR-style pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 36 rounds that were at King’s feet. The ATF National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (“NIBIN”) conducted an analysis that indicated the pistol had been used in a recent drive-by shooting in Springfield.

In addition, according to court documents, King is a suspect or person of interest in several incidents including: a downtown Springfield shooting resulting in two deaths and injuries to a third individual; robbery; theft of firearms; another shooting leaving the victim paralyzed; and multiple drive-by shootings.

Co-defendant Jardell Carlin Williams, 20, also a leader of the FTO gang, was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2024, to six years and six months in federal prison without parole. Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of being an unlawful user of controlled substances while possessing firearms.

Williams admitted he possessed a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol during the Feb. 15 traffic stop when he was riding as King's passenger. Detectives also located two more boxes of ammunition on the front floorboard.

Williams further admitted possessing a C3 Defense 5.56-caliber semi-automatic pistol when another vehicle he rode as passenger was stopped by law enforcement on Oct. 22, 2022. The C3 Defense AR-style pistol tentatively identified as being used in three Kansas City area shootings.

Both King and Williams admitted they regularly smoked marijuana.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Greene County Sheriff’s Department and Springfield Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), bringing together all levels of law enforcement and communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence making neighborhoods safer for everyone.