Felon Sentenced for Illegal Gun in Traffic Stop

0:00A 48-year-old Kansas City man just landed four years in federal prison for illegally packing heat as a felon. Craig D. Monks got sentenced Wednesday for holding a Beretta Px4 storm, a 40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, which is straight up against the law, for someone with his record. It started with a routine traffic stop on October 2, 2024, by Independence Police Officers. They pulled him over for expired tags on his vehicle. The officers spotted the gun wedge between the driver's seat and center console, and when asked, Monks pointed it out himself. A quick background check sealed the deal, confirming his prior felony conviction. In a follow-up chat with detectives, Monks owned up to carrying it and dismissed the felon and possession rule as pointless. This case drives home how traffic stops can uncover bigger issues, with Monks now facing the full weight of federal time behind bars. From your city, powered by AI. This is Kansas News Today.