CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Puxico, Mo., man faces up to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm.
Dennis James Trout, 51, pleaded guilty to one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Limbaugh set Trout's sentencing for Aug. 22.
At that time, Trout faces a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
With his plea, Trout admitted that on May 25, 2016, he possessed a 12-gauge shotgun, which was sold to a confidential informant working for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
As a convicted felon, Trout was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Trout previously had convicted of the felony of delivery of a controlled substance in 2006 and distribution of a controlled substance to a minor in 2007. Both convictions were in Stoddard County.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the highway patrol.