Chester Lewis Risco III, Gun Possession, Florida 2024

NORTH FORT MYERS, FL – Chester Lewis Risco, III, 20, is headed to federal prison for nearly four years after being caught with a loaded handgun while already a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Sherri Polster Chappell sentenced Risco to three years and ten months behind bars on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to the charge on September 20, 2023.

The case unfolded April 27, 2023, when a Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted Risco committing multiple traffic violations. When the deputy attempted a stop, Risco bolted on his bicycle. The ensuing chase ended with Risco in custody and a loaded Taurus pistol discovered tucked into a holster at his waistband. It wasn’t just the gun itself that landed Risco in trouble; he was already legally prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.

Adding insult to injury, Risco was actively under court-ordered supervision at the time of the traffic stop and gun discovery. This wasn’t a first-time offense, or a lapse in judgement – it was a brazen disregard for the law, according to court documents. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition used in the commission of the crime, meaning the government will now be in possession of the weapon.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Morgan handled the prosecution, presenting the evidence that ultimately led to Risco’s conviction and sentencing. The ATF didn’t release details regarding Risco’s prior felony convictions.

Federal officials are framing the case as part of the broader “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative, a program designed to unite law enforcement at all levels with local communities to combat violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a renewed focus on PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, and targeted enforcement.

While the feds tout PSN as a solution, the reality on the streets of North Fort Myers remains grim. Another young man with a criminal history now faces years in prison, and a loaded gun is off the streets, but the underlying issues that drive crime continue to fester. Risco’s sentence serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while prohibited by federal law carries serious consequences.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Weapons

Terrance Joseph Kilburg, Felon in Possession of Firearms and Unregistered National Firearms Act Weapons, Iowa 2014

Feb 19, 2015

Weapons

Jess Porras, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, South Dakota 2013

Jun 22, 2015

Weapons

World Disarmament Conference, Deception in Washington, 1932

Jan 7, 1931

Weapons

Joshua Linane, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, New Hampshire 2022

Jun 17, 2024