Serial Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession (DOJ)

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA - John D. Ford, 49, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing violent criminals, like this defendant, from our communities to deliver the safe streets our citizens deserve. This serial felon has demonstrated a complete disregard for our laws and the safety of our community, so we must ensure he remains locked away in prison as long as possible."

Court documents reflect that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted the Bay County Sheriff's Office in the execution of a search warrant at the defendant's residence in Panama City. Three firearms were found in the defendant's bedroom (a short-barreled shotgun and two pistols), along with job application paperwork with the defendant's biographical information on it and court paperwork for the defendant. Post-Miranda, the defendant admitted that one of the firearms belonged to him. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant's cellphone and discovered messages that indicated that the defendant was trading or selling the recovered firearms. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of 12 prior felony convictions.

The defendant faces imprisonment for up to 15 years at sentencing.

The case involved an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker

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.

As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney's Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

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.