Chester Lewis Risco III, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Florida 2023

Fed up with gun violence in our communities? The Grimy Times is on it. We dug deep to uncover the truth behind the crime.

A North Fort Myers man has been charged with a serious crime that could land him behind bars for 15 years. Chester Lewis Risco, III, 19, was indicted for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that Risco was in possession of a pistol on April 27, 2023, after being previously convicted of two felony offenses in March 2023.

Risco’s conviction made him federally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The indictment also notifies Risco that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, Risco was previously convicted of two felony offenses in March 2023, making him federally prohibited from possessing a firearm. This new charge means Risco could face a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison if convicted.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark R. Morgan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

We will continue to provide updates on this case as more information becomes available. For now, the community remains on high alert, and we urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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