Tampa, Florida — A 56-year-old Sarasota man is facing federal prison after being caught stockpiling more than two tons of explosive materials, including 4,362 pounds of quick match — enough to level entire city blocks. Marc Jason Levene was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of possessing explosives as a convicted felon, two counts of improper storage of explosive materials, and one count of possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.
Each count of possession carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison; each improper storage charge adds up to one year behind bars. The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice: the U.S. government intends to seize all 4,362 pounds of quick match and 858 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition found at Levene’s property and a commercial storage unit in Sarasota.
According to court documents, Levene stored the volatile materials in an exterior shed at his home and inside a rented storage unit — both highly unstable and unlawful locations under federal law. Last Thursday, federal agents and local law enforcement executed search warrants at both sites, uncovering the massive cache of explosives and live rounds hidden in plain sight.
Levene, a previously convicted felon, is prohibited under federal law from possessing any firearms or explosive materials. Yet he allegedly built a personal arsenal capable of inflicting catastrophic damage. Quick match, a fast-burning fuse commonly used in pyrotechnics, becomes a deadly weapon in bulk — especially when stored without safety controls or regulatory oversight.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Gaugush. Authorities stress that no charges are proven until trial, and Levene is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative reinvigorated in 2017 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reduce violent crime through coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez oversees PSN operations, targeting high-risk offenders who threaten public safety with illegal weapons and explosives.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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