Tallahassee Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Possession While Shoplifting

Tallahassee, Florida - Lamar Bunch, 35, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker to two years and four months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Our brave law enforcement partners confront dangerous, armed criminals like this defendant every day in their fight to keep our communities safe, and I am proud to deliver this successful prosecution and prison sentence to make clear that we will not tolerate criminality in my district. Armed serial offenders like this defendant belong behind bars, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to deliver the safe, crime-free streets our citizens deserve."

Court documents reflect that on February 18, 2026, an off-duty Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy was working a security detail at Dillards when he observed the defendant shoplifting. The deputy made contact with the defendant outside of the store, and, while talking with him, the defendant opened his backpack where the deputy could see a pair of jeans inside the bag with the tags still on them. When the deputy attempted to detain the defendant, he fled on foot. The defendant was caught, arrested and a search of the defendant's backpack yielded the stolen pair of pants with the size and price tags still attached and a 9-millimeter pistol.

The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for burglary, robbery, and attempted burglary. Evidence at sentencing showed that the day prior, specifically after midnight on February 17, 2026, the defendant threatened his ex-girlfriend with a silver and black pistol. The ex-girlfriend had a gas station store clerk call 911 and then locked herself inside the store's bathroom until law enforcement arrived. The defendant left the store before law enforcement was able to talk to the ex-girlfriend and was not found that night.

The case involved an investigation by the Leon County Sheriff's Office, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

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.