Sedalia Man Indicted for Illegal Firearms

A 26-year old Sedalia man was recently indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing several firearms.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri says that 26-year old Timothy Paul Cota, Jr. was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on Wednesday, October 24. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Cota on October 1.

The indictment alleges that Cota was in possession of a Ruger 9mm pistol, a Colt .45-caliber pistol and a Tanfoglio 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number on Sept. 4, 2018. Cota is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

According to an affidavit, Sedalia Police and detectives executed a search warrant at Cota’s residence on September 4.

Cota, along with a woman and an infant, were reportedly found in a bedroom and escorted out of the residence during the search. Officers searched the bedroom and found the Ruger (which had been reported stolen) and the Colt pistols hidden between the mattress and box springs of the bed. The Tanfoglio pistol was found in a plastic case on a chair in the room. Officers also found methamphetamine, marijuana, ammunition and drug paraphernalia in the room.

In addition, officers found an iPhone in the bedroom, which contained numerous images and videos of Cota displaying the firearms, discharging the firearms, displaying firearms with drugs, and weighing methamphetamine and marijuana on a digital scale, according to the affidavit.

Cota has prior felony convictions for burglary, resisting arrest, malicious assault and possession of a controlled substance.