Show-Me State Times

A Kansas City man has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for his role in a firearms trafficking conspiracy. Fedo A. Manning, 24, received a sentence of 66 months without parole, followed by three years of supervised release, from U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips.

According to court documents, Manning admitted to conspiring to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law. The plea agreement states that at least 22 firearms were trafficked to known felons or sold after being converted into unregistered machineguns. Manning's involvement included acting as a straw purchaser—buying firearms from licensed dealers so they could be resold by others to prohibited persons. Investigators found that between January 13, 2023, and May 11, 2022, Manning purchased at least 40 firearms from federally licensed dealers; 33 of these were Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15s.

At least seven of the guns bought by Manning were later recovered during investigations into crimes in the Kansas City area. One firearm was found at the scene of the shooting during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory celebration on February 14, 2024. The loaded Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 pistol was located with other weapons and backpacks; it was set in “fire” position with a magazine containing 26 live rounds out of a possible 30.

Manning’s brother and co-defendant Antonio Manning Sr., 23, also pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy and selling illegal firearms—including an unregistered machinegun—to prohibited persons. On August 7, 2025, Antonio Manning was sentenced to four years in prison without parole and ordered to pay $11,260 as part of a criminal forfeiture judgment.

Another brother involved in the case, Sheron Manning, pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced on May 21, 2025, to nearly five years in prison without parole for his role in trafficking both standard and converted machinegun firearms.

Co-defendant Dejohuan Mietz Huntley pleaded guilty last year to charges including conspiracy to traffic firearms and possession of an unregistered machinegun as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a sentence of nearly six years without parole.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford prosecuted the case following an investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime by targeting illegal immigration networks and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts involving programs like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).