KC Reporter

A Mexican national has admitted guilt in a federal court for illegally possessing firearms. Jose Montero-Barradas, 34, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of Alien in Possession of Firearms.

Court documents reveal that Montero-Barradas was aware of his illegal status in the United States when he possessed two firearms on March 23, 2025. On that date, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department officers responded to a residential area after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers observed Montero-Barradas entering a residence with two firearms, which were subsequently recovered.

Federal law prohibits aliens from possessing firearms or ammunition. Montero-Barradas faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is set by Congress and serves informational purposes; the actual sentence will be determined by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines and other factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley is prosecuting this case, which was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and combating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The operation utilizes resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to protect communities from violent crime perpetrators.