Adam Longoria Gets 15 Years for Gun Possession

Adam Longoria, 30, of Wimauma, is headed back to federal prison for 15 years after being caught selling an AR-15 style rifle while armed with a criminal record and ties to the Westside Bloods street gang. U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore handed down the sentence after Longoria pleaded guilty on September 28, 2016, to being a felon in possession of a firearm—a charge that carries a heavy penalty when linked to gang activity and prior drug trafficking convictions.

According to court records, the bust began in March 2015 when a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detective scoured social media for illegal gun sales. A Facebook profile under Longoria’s name advertised a .22 caliber AR-15 for $300. The post didn’t just show a rifle—it showed Longoria flashing gang hand signs. Investigators confirmed he was a documented member of the Westside Bloods and, worse, a convicted felon on federal supervised release after serving time for cocaine trafficking.

Operating undercover, the detective messaged Longoria about the rifle. Longoria confirmed the sale and directed the buyer to meet at a Walmart in Plant City. But at the last minute, he called it off and sent a woman—claiming she was his wife—to complete the deal. She led the detective to the back of her vehicle, where the Mossberg International 715T (.22 caliber) semi-automatic rifle was stashed. The detective paid her $300 on the spot and seized the weapon.

That single sale opened a broader investigation. Authorities later tied Longoria to additional firearms, including a Glock 22 (.40 caliber) pistol, a Glock 43 (9mm) pistol, 15 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, and a Savage Arms (.22 caliber) rifle. As part of his guilty plea, Longoria agreed to forfeit all rights to these weapons—tools of his trade in a life straddling the line between drug trafficking and armed gang activity.

The case was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale. The conviction underscores the federal government’s no-tolerance stance on felons wielding firearms, especially when gang affiliations and prior drug convictions are involved.

This prosecution falls under the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” initiative, a nationwide strategy aimed at dismantling violent crime networks. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl R. McCrary are spearheading the effort in the Middle District of Florida, aligning federal, state, and local agencies to target repeat offenders like Longoria before they ignite another round of bloodshed.