KC Reporter

A Leeton, Missouri man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for illegally possessing a firearm. William N. Brown, 54, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs after pleading guilty on February 13, 2025, to being a felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal.

Brown admitted that on February 26, 2024, he was in possession of a Benelli 12-gauge shotgun with its serial number removed. The weapon had been modified with both the barrel and butt stock sawed off.

According to authorities, Brown was arrested after witnesses reported seeing him walk to a neighbor’s house carrying both a machete and a shotgun. Deputies from the Johnson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for Brown’s residence and found the shotgun hidden in a storage compartment within a seating bench.

Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from possessing firearms or ammunition. Brown's criminal history includes 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 additional 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."

The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative that coordinates resources from agencies such as the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The program focuses on addressing illegal immigration issues and violent crime through collaborative law enforcement efforts.