KC Reporter

A Kansas City man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms. David Michael Gager, also known as David Kash, age 31, received a sentence of 71 months without parole from U.S. District Judge Greg Kays.

Gager pleaded guilty on March 7, 2025, to five counts of knowingly being a felon in possession of firearms during the period between April 19 and May 16, 2024. During this time, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) used both a confidential informant and an undercover agent to carry out four controlled purchases of firearms from Gager. According to court documents, Gager discussed the possibility of obtaining machineguns and methamphetamine for future transactions. He also told agents that he obtained firearms in Kansas City and transported them to Chicago for resale at a profit.

On May 9, 2024, officers with the Kansas City Police Department executed an arrest warrant for Gager at a convenience store on Prospect Avenue. Officers found a 9mm handgun that Gager had discarded in a trashcan near the front of the store after noticing police approaching.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Kansas City Police Department.

This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which brings together resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, target cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from violent crime. The initiative combines efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).