A Manatee County felon is headed back behind bars after being caught with a loaded 9mm pistol and multiple rounds of ammunition in his home. Pedro Garcia, 34, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington in Tampa, Florida, for knowingly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
The conviction stems from a November 9, 2015 compliance search conducted by state and federal law enforcement at Garcia’s residence. Acting under the terms of his state probation, officers from the Florida Department of Corrections Probation & Parole, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed the search—and found a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol, assorted 9mm and .45 caliber ammunition, and drug paraphernalia stashed inside the home.
Garcia’s possession of the firearm was a direct violation of federal law, which prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from owning or handling guns or ammunition. The discovery triggered immediate federal charges, culminating in a guilty verdict entered on November 2, 2016, after which prosecutors moved for maximum accountability.
The court ordered the forfeiture of the firearm and all seized ammunition, underscoring the zero-tolerance policy for armed felons. Assistant United States Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell handled the prosecution, arguing that Garcia’s access to a loaded weapon posed a clear threat to community safety.
This case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” initiative, a national strategy aimed at reducing gun violence through coordinated federal, state, and local enforcement. In the Middle District of Florida, the program is led by United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl R. McCrary.
The investigation reflects the ongoing crackdown on illegal firearms in high-risk communities. Authorities continue to target repeat offenders who illegally arm themselves, sending a clear message: felons with guns will face federal time. Garcia’s 78-month sentence is the latest example of that promise delivered.
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