Columbia Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms.

Shaune Aaron Price, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total sentence of 10 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 7, 2023, Price pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A detective with the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department recognized Price on March 23, 2022, and confirmed he had a warrant for his arrest. Officers stopped the bus Price was riding and arrested him. Price had a tan duffle bag that contained a loaded Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun.

The ATF National Integrated Ballistic Information Network ("NIBIN") conducted an analysis that linked the handgun to three separate events, including a shooting outside Gold Bar in downtown Columbia on Nov. 6, 2021, and a domestic assault on Jan. 1, 2022.

Investigators also found a video on Price's cell phone that depicts him holding a Glock .40-caliber handgun on May 31, 2021. According to the government evidence, Price's cell phone and Facebook records indicate he possessed at least 11 firearms. Investigators also discovered several messages in which Price bragged about being involved in "shoot-outs," including one message about being involved in three "shoot-outs" in the past nine days.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Price has prior felony convictions for attempting to carry a concealed weapon and carrying a concealed weapon.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.