KC Reporter

A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced to over nine years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms. Jerrell D. Coppage, 34, received a sentence of nine years and seven months without parole from U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs.

Coppage pleaded guilty on March 6, 2025, to being a felon in possession of firearms. He admitted to possessing three firearms—a Glock Model 22 .40 caliber pistol, an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 .223 caliber pistol, and a Ruger Model LCP .380 caliber pistol—on January 3, 2024.

Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. At the time of this offense, Coppage was on parole in a state case and had multiple prior felony convictions. His record includes four convictions for burglary, three for theft, two for stealing a motor vehicle, as well as convictions for sale of a controlled substance, tampering, and forgery.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

"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."