Joshua Wayne Taylor, a 47-year-old resident of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced on April 9 to 13 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the sentence following Taylor's guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address illegal firearm possession by individuals with prior felony convictions. Such cases are prosecuted under federal law due to the potential risk posed by firearms in the hands of those previously convicted of serious crimes.
Taylor pleaded guilty on August 27, 2025, admitting that he knowingly possessed a .22LR revolver and 53 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition on November 18, 2024. Investigators said Taylor had previously been convicted of an offense punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The sentencing hearing was presided over by Senior Judge Ronald A. White at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the government during proceedings.
Taylor will remain in custody with the U.S. Marshals Service until he is transported to a designated facility within the United States Bureau of Prisons system to serve his sentence without parole.
