Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than 15 Years For Selling Drugs And Guns (DOJ)

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington has sentenced Noe Alegria (30, Ruskin) to 15 years and 1 month in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Alegria pled guilty on December 3, 2024.

According to court documents, on July 13, 2023, Alegria sold cocaine to an undercover officer outside of Alegria's residence. During the sale of cocaine, Alegria had a Glock firearm in his pants pocket. After completing the sale, the undercover asked about purchasing a firearm. Alegria and the undercover then went inside Alegria's residence, where Alegria sold him a separate firearm. Alegria also sold the undercover firearms on future occasions. In total, law enforcement purchased or recovered 14 firearms from Alegria over the course of the investigation.

Alegria was previously convicted for possessing controlled substances in 2020. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.

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 safer 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.