CAPE GIRARDEAU - The United States Attorney's Office announced that Joseph M. Lopez, age 40, of Oak Ridge, Missouri, was sentenced to serve 112 months in federal prison for the offense of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Lopez appeared for his sentencing hearing Monday before United States District Judge Stephen R. Clark at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
According to court documents, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Lopez’s residence in Oak Ridge last November. A 9mm pistol was discovered inside a safe in Lopez’s bedroom. Officers also discovered methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia items during the search. Lopez is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law due to his status as a convicted felon. At his guilty plea hearing earlier this year, Lopez admitted that he possessed the pistol. After serving his 112-month sentence, Lopez will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years.
This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
