Former Gun Store Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Firearms and Ammunition to Convicted Felon

Tampa, Florida - Frank Jude Petrone, Sr. (55, Parrish) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to three years and one month in federal prison for trafficking in firearms and selling firearms and ammunition to a convicted felon. Petrone pleaded guilty on August 26, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, on October 2, 2024, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that Petrone was selling firearms to an individual he knew to be a convicted felon. At the time, Petrone was a salesperson for a licensed gun store. On four separate occasions between October 2024 and January 2025, Petrone sold the convicted felon, acting as a confidential source, four firearms and 146 rounds of ammunition. Federal law prohibits selling firearms to a convicted felon, and a convicted felon cannot pass the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

On October 17, 2024, Petrone sold a .357 Taurus International 605 Poly Protector revolver and 10 rounds of .357 ammunition to the confidential source. On November 8, 2024, Petrone sold a 9mm Sig Sauer M18 semi-automatic pistol and 57 rounds of ammunition to the confidential source. On January 2, 2025, Petrone sold a .45 TISAS 1911A1 semi-automatic pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition to the confidential source. During that transaction, Petrone also offered to sell a machinegun with an obliterated serial number. On January 28, 2025, Petrone sold a CZ Scorpion 9-millimeter pistol (not a machinegun), loaded with 29 of a possible 50 rounds of ammunition, to the confidential source.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall.

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.