Jury Convicts KC Man of Illegal Firearm, Faces at Least 15 Years in Prison

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of illegally possessing a firearm.

Keith R. Hardin, 58, of Kansas City, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hardin was in possession of a Cobra .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun on Jan. 15, 2016.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hardin has prior felony convictions for armed criminal action, stealing a motor vehicle, sodomy, robbery and burglary.

Hardin was stopped by Kansas City police officers at approximately 3:22 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2016, who saw him walking in the street near 35th Street and S. Benton Avenue. Officers arrested Hardin on outstanding warrants. While searching him during the arrest, they found a loaded Cobra .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun on his left hip.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about 15 minutes before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, Oct. 31, 2016.

Under federal statutes, Hardin is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce A. Rhoades. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.