TAMPA, FL – Christian Joel Andujar Rivera, 25, of Tampa, is headed to federal prison for more than four years after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge James Moody, Jr. handed down the sentence on Friday, adding three years of supervised release to the 52-month term. The court also ordered the forfeiture of a Glock pistol and a stash of ammunition seized during the arrest.
The bust stemmed from a June 2022 incident where Andujar Rivera was a wanted man on a felony charge of fleeing and eluding police. The U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Apprehension Unit tracked him to a residence in Plant City, triggering a tense standoff. According to court documents, Andujar Rivera refused to comply with commands to surrender, even threatening officers, stating they’d have to shoot him once he revealed a firearm.
He eventually gave up without a shot fired, but the subsequent search of the Plant City home turned up a disturbing arsenal: nine firearms and a significant quantity of ammunition. Forensic analysis confirmed Andujar Rivera’s DNA was on one of the weapons, a Glock pistol. This wasn’t his first brush with the law; as a multi-convicted felon, he was legally barred from owning guns or ammo.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shauna S. Hale led the prosecution, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence. This case highlights the ongoing federal crackdown on illegal gun possession by those with criminal records.
Federal officials emphasized this case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement at all levels with the communities they serve. It’s also a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, signaling a broader effort to dismantle criminal organizations and disrupt the flow of illegal weapons.
The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on building trust with communities, supporting local violence prevention groups, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and meticulously measuring results. The OCDETF program, meanwhile, targets the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering operations, aiming to cripple the nation’s drug supply – often intertwined with illegal firearms like those found in Andujar Rivera’s possession.
Related Federal Cases
- Etavious J. Milton Faces Federal Gun Possession Charge, Tallahassee… · Virginia
- Shem Wayne Alexander, Gun Smuggling, Tampa FL, 2023 · Virginia
- Alexander Rivera-Santiago Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of F… · Florida
- Patrick Willie Smith, Gun Possession with Loaded Firearm, FL 2024 · Virginia
- Brandon Williams, Heroin and Gun Possession, Florida 2015 · Virginia
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons