KANSAS CITY, Mo. – -(AmmoLand.com)- A Warrensburg, Missouri, man and a Kansas City, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing firearms that they sold to an undercover federal agent.
Rufus C. Thomas, also known as “Jackpot,” 30, of Warrensburg, and his brother, Hashir Abdur-Rahman, also known as “Jeremiah Monroe” and “The Noble King,” 42, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough.
Thomas pleaded guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. Abdur-Rahman pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Each of the instances in which Thomas and Abdur-Rahman illegally possessed firearms involved the illegal sale of firearms to an undercover special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
By pleading guilty today, Thomas admitted that he was in possession of a Ruger .22-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number, a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun, and a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol on Oct. 5, 2017. Thomas also admitted that he was in possession of a Heritage .22-caliber revolver and two Remington 12-gauge shotguns with obliterated serial numbers on Oct. 24, 2017. Thomas also admitted that he was in possession of a Strassel 9mm pistol on Dec. 21, 2017.
Abdur-Rahman admitted that he was in possession of a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun on Dec. 7, 2017. Abdur-Rahman also admitted that he sold the shotgun to an undercover federal agent, on behalf of Thomas, for $350.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Thomas has prior felony convictions for burglary, possession of a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two prior felony convictions for theft. Abdur-Rahman has a prior felony conviction for possession with the intent to sell illegal drugs.
Under federal statutes, Thomas and Abdur-Rahman are each subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 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 Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Missouri. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.
There are no illegal guns, just people who possess and/or use them illegally.
These two should be deposited in the middle of Iraq wearing US flag-themed clothing, a canteen, a can of spaghetti-O’s and a toy AK47.
nice American names
Why is Ammoland promoting the ATF and their lies and bullshit? SHAME on you AMMOLAND!
I suppose I did not make my point clearly enough. That is one of my failings. By what and/or who’s authority/standard are these two dirtbags being prosecuted? See it now? Should they be in jail? Yes. For what? Theft. Either the constitution applies to all or it does not. Isn’t that the higher argument? Isn’t that what we are arguing for? As bad as these two want to be jihadis obviously are, their debit to society as judged was paid. Too bad they did not learn from it. That being said, Hitler used the very same tactics and accusations to… Read more »
Two dirtbags who have and sold firearms missing serial numbers. The key is stolen guns. Drug dealer- yes. Robber – yes. Stolen guns – yes. But the 2A does NOT discriminate. IF they are citizens and since they are not in jail or the loony farm, they have the right to keep and bear arms. The crimes these two dirtbags have done here is actually the stolen guns. The OTHER CRIME is with the government who is unlawfully denying their RIGHT to keep and bear arms. This is job justification of and for the atfe, legislators who wrote and passes… Read more »
Those inner-city KC boys are real geniuses. I was a manager at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant outside KC for 14 years. Occasionally, actually frequently, DOD would screw up their orders and we would have to shut a line or two down until more orders came. We employed many of these “King” types in production and would furlough some when this order snafu occurred. They would be told by their managers that they would be called back in a couple of weeks. When that time came 10 had to be called to get 5 that passed the drug test. They… Read more »