Press Release

Republic Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense

Monday, July 20, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Republic, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Phillip Brad Curtis, 52, who has prior felony convictions for robbery, domestic assault, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 110 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, deputies with the Barry County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a property near Aurora, Mo., for a report that Curtis was trespassing. Deputies contacted Curtis, who had multiple active felony warrants for his arrest. During the encounter, Curtis threatened to kill the responding deputies, announced he had a gun, and exhibited a firearm at the window during a stand-off that lasted approximately eight hours. Curtis was ultimately taken into custody without incident, and a firearm was recovered from inside a dog-food bag inside the residence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Barry County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.