TAMPA, FL – A Sarasota man with a lengthy rap sheet is headed back to prison for 15 years after federal authorities caught him with a stolen handgun. Christopher Deon Townsel, 47, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Covington Hernandez for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence also includes forfeiture of the Hi-Point C9, a 9mm pistol, and accompanying ammunition used in the offense.
The bust originated back in December 2018, when Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies were surveilling a hotel looking for a fugitive. They spotted Townsel behind the wheel of a vehicle as a woman exited the hotel and entered as a passenger. The smell of marijuana wafting from the car quickly escalated the situation. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, Townsel allegedly tried to flee, but was quickly apprehended. A search of the car revealed the loaded 9mm pistol on the driver’s side floorboard, along with bags of marijuana.
Forensic analysis confirmed what investigators suspected: Townsel’s DNA was found on the grip of the firearm. Further investigation revealed the pistol had been previously reported stolen. This wasn’t Townsel’s first brush with the law, far from it. With a history of ten prior felony convictions, he was legally prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlie D. Connally successfully prosecuted the case, laying out the evidence before Judge Hernandez. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, demonstrating a coordinated push to get illegal weapons off the streets. Townsel pleaded guilty on May 24, 2022, setting the stage for today’s sentencing.
Federal officials are touting this case as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The program focuses on strategic enforcement and measuring results, aiming to make neighborhoods safer. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021.
While the fifteen-year sentence offers a temporary reprieve from Townsel’s criminal activity, questions remain about the root causes driving repeat offenders like him. The Hi-Point C9 and ammunition will be forfeited to the government, and Townsel will serve his sentence in a federal prison. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the effectiveness of PSN in curbing gun violence throughout the Middle District of Florida.
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