Jacksonville Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Firearm

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Christopher O'Neal Houser (44, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Houser faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, on February 2, 2024, Houser sold a sawed-off shotgun to a convicted felon. At the time that he possessed and sold the shotgun, Houser had a prior felony conviction (July 2019) for possessing methamphetamine. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Houser also has prior convictions for committing sodomy in 2001, and for misdemeanor battery in 2019.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.