An Independence, Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for illegal firearm possession. Dustin Edward Talbott, also known as “Chunky Dunker,” age 41, received a sentence of 71 months in prison without parole from U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Kays. The conviction was for being a felon and illicit drug user in possession of a firearm.
Talbott pleaded guilty on August 18, 2025, to knowingly possessing a Ranger Model 101.11A .22 caliber long rifle while being prohibited due to his criminal record and drug use.
The incident leading to the charges occurred on April 8, 2024. An officer with the Independence Police Department observed a Chevy Cobalt with stolen license plates parked at a convenience store. After backup arrived, officers detained Talbott and two passengers. During their investigation, police discovered that Talbott had an outstanding warrant and no valid driver’s license; the vehicle was also unregistered.
Officers conducted an inventory search before towing the car and found the .22 caliber rifle on the floorboard between the driver’s seat and door. They also located a methamphetamine pipe on the driver’s side floorboard and two syringes in a passenger-door compartment. A box of .22 caliber ammunition was found in the glove box.
At the scene, Talbott admitted he had previously placed the firearm in the trunk of his vehicle. In an interview later, he told detectives that another person had fired the rifle into a homeless camp earlier that morning and that he had moved it off his bed in his cabin previously. He also admitted to using “ice,” referring to methamphetamine.
Talbott has prior felony convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford and James Kirkpatrick prosecuted this case, which was investigated by the Independence Police Department.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri handles federal prosecutions across 66 counties stretching from Iowa to Arkansas borders and collaborates with law enforcement partners at all levels (official website). Offices are located in Kansas City, Jefferson City, and Springfield (official website). The office supports community outreach programs aimed at addressing violent crime and drug trafficking (official website).
