U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Corterian L. Wright, a Tennessee man, to 137 months in prison. Wright had pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with multiple vehicle firearm thefts in Missouri, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Wright, 42, was involved in breaking into 24 vehicles over a three-and-a-half-hour period on October 24, 2023. He admitted to stealing five handguns from vehicles at multiple business locations in Scott County and New Madrid County. Wright’s prior felony conviction prohibits him from possessing firearms. His arrest followed a joint investigation by several law enforcement agencies, including the Matthews Police Department, New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office, New Madrid Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton. Wright’s prior felony and the nature of the firearm thefts contributed to the seriousness of the case. The investigation involved coordination among local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Wright was sentenced to over 11 years in prison. The case follows a series of vehicle thefts and addresses the challenges of illegal firearm possession.
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