Joplin man admits to being a felon in possession of a firearm
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Quincy E. Richards, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Richards was charged as part of Operation Spring Cleaning, that was coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office and law enforcement across Southwest Missouri.
On Sept. 9, 2025, Richards was contacted by law enforcement during the execution of a prior arrest warrant. During that contact, Richards consented to a search of his vehicle. During the search, officers found a black backpack in the trunk of his vehicle that contained a tan and black Palmetto State Armory 9mm semiautomatic firearm. In addition to the firearm, law enforcement also discovered two oversized magazines that could hold 40 and 25 rounds of ammunition.
Under federal statutes, Richards is subject to sentences of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000. 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 Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Carthage Missouri Police Department.
