Guilty plea by Gainesville felon in federal firearms prosecution (DOJ)

Gainesville, Florida - Samonta Leondre James, 26, of Gainesville, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court on a charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the guilty plea.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "I applaud the excellent investigative work by the Gainesville Police Department to remove this dangerous felon from our streets. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to make abundantly clear that the Northern District of Florida has zero-tolerance from crime."

According to court records, Gainesville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle where the Defendant was a passenger. When asked by law enforcement if he had any weapons, the defendant stated that he had a firearm in his possession. A search of the defendant uncovered a Glock 29 10-millimeter handgun with seven rounds of ammunition. The defendant has prior convictions for Possession with Intent to Sell Cannabis within 1000 Feet of a Place of Worship and Possession with Intent to Sell Cannabis, and he is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 16, 2027, at 1:30pm before Chief United States District Court Judge Allen Winsor in Gainesville, Florida. The Defendant faces up to 15 years' imprisonment.

The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.