Merriam Woods Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearms Possession Following High-Speed Chase

Blake Christopher Basten, a 34-year-old resident of Merriam Woods, has been handed a 10-year prison sentence without parole after being found guilty of illegally possessing firearms in two separate cases. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on February 27.

Basten pleaded guilty on February 21, 2023, to charges of felon in possession of a firearm in connection with two unrelated incidents.

The first case stemmed from a police search at another individual's residence on June 29, 2022, where Basten was found in possession of a loaded Kel-Tec pistol. He admitted to obtaining the firearm through a drug trade, citing concerns for his safety after having been previously shot at.

In the second case, Basten was a passenger in a black Nissan Sentra involved in a high-speed chase with law enforcement on August 18, 2022. Following a failed traffic stop attempt, the Sentra rammed a police vehicle and led officers on a pursuit through a residential area. The chase ended in a collision with a Jeep SUV at an intersection. Basten fled the scene but was later apprehended by Greene County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

Upon searching the Sentra, officers discovered two handguns on the front passenger side floorboard—a Smith & Wesson pistol and a loaded Taurus pistol. Witness accounts and surveillance footage confirmed Basten's involvement in the incident, with reports of gunfire during the pursuit.

Basten's criminal history, including eight prior felony convictions and his parole status for involuntary manslaughter, further exacerbated the severity of his offenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan prosecuted the cases, with investigative support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, and the Springfield Police Department.

The sentencing falls under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which aims to combat violent crime and gun violence through collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies and local communities.