A Springfield, Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms. Aaron Wayne Williams, 34, received a sentence of 104 months in federal prison without parole, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool.
Williams pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. His criminal record includes felony convictions for domestic assault in the third degree, attempted burglary in the first degree, property damage motivated by discrimination in the second degree, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon.
According to court documents, on January 8, 2025, officers from the Springfield Police Department found Williams sleeping in his running vehicle at the Kum & Go located at 2963 East Division Street. Officers observed a Ruger Mini 14 semiautomatic rifle next to him as he slept. After waking Williams and removing him from the vehicle, police conducted a search and discovered three additional firearms: a Taurus G2S 9mm pistol; an HS Produkt XD .40 caliber pistol; and a Star 9mm pistol. Officers also found suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, loose ammunition, and extra firearm magazines inside the vehicle.
During an interview with law enforcement officers after his arrest, Williams admitted that he was under the influence of controlled substances when contacted by police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan prosecuted the case. The investigation was carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield Police Department.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America,” according to officials. “Operation Take Back America is 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.”
