KC Reporter

A Springfield, Missouri man has entered a guilty plea in federal court for illegal firearm possession. Aaron Wayne Williams, aged 34, admitted to being a felon in possession of firearms before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool.

Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Williams has previous felony convictions including domestic assault, attempted burglary, property damage motivated by discrimination, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon.

The incident leading to the charges occurred on January 8, 2025. Officers from the Springfield Police Department found Williams asleep in his running vehicle at the Kum & Go parking lot located at 2963 East Division Street. A Ruger Mini 14 semiautomatic rifle was observed beside him. Additional firearms discovered included a Taurus G2S 9mm pistol, an HS Produkt XD .40 caliber pistol, and a Star 9mm pistol.

Williams faces up to 15 years in federal prison without parole under federal statutes. The final sentence will be determined by the court after considering advisory sentencing guidelines and other factors following a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan is prosecuting this case which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Springfield Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes building trust within communities and supporting organizations that work to prevent violence.