Clearwater Felons Busted with Illegal Firearms

TAMPA, FL – Two Clearwater men are facing serious federal time after being indicted on firearms and ammunition charges, the Department of Justice announced today. Robert Pugh (34, Clearwater) and Leon Williams (34, Clearwater) were allegedly found in possession of weapons despite lengthy criminal records that should have barred them from owning any.

According to the indictment, on January 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Pugh with not one, but two loaded firearms: a Taurus and a Sig Sauer. This isn’t Pugh’s first rodeo with the law. He’s previously been convicted of aggravated battery, felonious possession of a firearm or ammunition, and peddling cocaine – a trifecta of trouble that apparently didn’t deter him.

Leon Williams wasn’t packing heat, but the feds say he was caught with multiple rounds of ammunition on the same date. Like Pugh, Williams has a past. Multiple convictions for the sale of cocaine already stain his record, making any possession of ammunition a serious federal offense.

If convicted, Pugh is looking at a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. Williams faces significantly harsher penalties, potentially life in prison with a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The ACCA is a serious tool, and the feds aren’t messing around.

“An indictment is merely a formal charge,” a DOJ spokesperson stressed, “and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.” But the evidence suggests these two men were knowingly breaking the law. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Clearwater Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang will be prosecuting the case.

This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence. Launched in 2021, PSN emphasizes building trust with communities, supporting violence prevention programs, and focusing enforcement efforts where they’re needed most. Whether this program will truly make a difference in Clearwater remains to be seen, but the feds are hoping to send a message: illegal gun possession won’t be tolerated.