Topeka Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Charge

TOPEKA, KS—A Topeka man has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Taron Alonzo Huggins, 24, Topeka, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. In his plea, he admitted that the investigation began January 25, 2013, when the Topeka Police Department received a report of a shooting in central Topeka.

Hours after the shooting, police attempted to stop a car carrying Huggins and another man, Michael Whitfield. The vehicle eluded officers by going the wrong way on an off-ramp to Interstate 70. Shortly after officers discontinued the pursuit, they were called to an accident at the off-ramp involving the car Huggins and Whitfield had occupied.

Officers learned that a .45 caliber pistol had been discarded from the car and left near the scene of the accident. They recovered the gun and arrested Huggins at a restaurant near where the accident occurred. Huggins was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction.

Whitfield was charged separately in Shawnee County District Court.

Huggins is set for sentencing August 19. He faces a penalty of not less than 15 years in federal prison. Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.