FORT MYERS BEACH, FL – Clayton Mack Rhodes, 45, is headed back to federal prison after a judge handed down a seven-year and six-month sentence for illegally possessing a firearm. Rhodes, a convicted felon, was found with a loaded Glock handgun in his bedroom, a clear violation of federal law.
The case unfolded in the early hours of January 22, 2021, when Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies responded to a 911 call at a Fort Myers Beach residence. They discovered a man unresponsive in the living room, later confirmed to have died from a drug overdose. Rhodes, identified as the victim’s roommate, was also present. A subsequent search of the home turned up the loaded handgun in Rhodes’s private quarters.
This wasn’t Rhodes’s first brush with the federal justice system. Court records reveal he previously served over a decade in prison on a drug trafficking conviction, automatically disqualifying him from legally owning firearms or ammunition. Despite this, he possessed a loaded weapon, raising serious questions about how he obtained it and potentially endangering the community.
Federal prosecutors didn’t mince words, successfully arguing that Rhodes’s actions posed a clear and present danger. The court ordered Rhodes to forfeit not only the Glock handgun but also the ammunition found with it. Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth handled the prosecution, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence.
Authorities are framing this case as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a multi-agency initiative designed to curb violent crime and gun violence. The program emphasizes collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, along with community engagement, to address the root causes of crime and improve public safety. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on building trust, supporting local organizations, and strategic enforcement.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Rhodes pleaded guilty on August 9, 2022, setting the stage for today’s sentencing. While seven years and six months won’t bring back the overdose victim, it sends a message: convicted felons possessing firearms will face the full force of federal law.
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