Gainesville Gun Bust

⏱ 2 min read

On November 21, 2025, Dean Allen Harper, a 55-year-old Gainesville resident, was pulled over by law enforcement, revealing a cache of firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, and a homemade silencer. The traffic stop led to the discovery of two rifles, two pistols, multiple magazines, and numerous rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds. One of the pistols had an automotive oil filter converted into a makeshift silencer, which was not registered and did not have a serial number.

Harper pleaded guilty to possessing the unregistered homemade silencer, a federal offense. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and is part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative.

At sentencing, Harper faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. The sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

The guilty plea is a result of the collaborative efforts of state and federal law enforcement agencies to remove armed criminals from the streets. U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin praised the investigative work of the agencies involved, stating that his office will continue to support their efforts with aggressive prosecutions.