Cory Lee Kelly, a 34-year-old Jacksonville resident and convicted felon, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Kelly faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
Kelly was pulled over by a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper on April 28, 2022, for a seatbelt violation. The vehicle was occupied by Kelly and a two-year-old child. At Kelly’s driver’s side window, the trooper smelled marijuana. Kelly did not possess a valid driver’s license, and the trooper also determined that Kelly had an outstanding arrest warrant for an unresolved charge of driving with a suspended license. Kelly was detained, and based on the smell of marijuana, his vehicle was searched. During the search, the trooper located remnants of marijuana and a Glock-type pistol, which once the driver’s side door was opened, was readily visible under the driver’s seat.
The pistol had no serial number, was loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition, and had a so-called “Glock switch” – a device converting the pistol into a machine gun; allowing it to fire multiple rounds with the single pull of the trigger – visibly installed at the rear of the slide. A search of Kelly’s criminal history determined that he had previously been convicted of possession of a controlled substance while armed, a felony offense.
On July 19, 2022, an officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office saw Kelly driving a car while speeding, with illegal window tint, and an expired registration. The officer signaled Kelly to pull over, which he did. As the officer approached the driver’s side window, Kelly rolled it down a minimal amount. When asked to roll it down further, Kelly complied, and the officer smelled marijuana. Kelly was alone in the car and visibly within his reach was an AR-style semi-automatic pistol on the passenger-side of the car. When asked, Kelly could not produce a driver’s license and confirmed that he was a convicted felon. Kelly was detained, and pursuant to a search, in addition to the semi-automatic pistol (loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition), officers located counterfeit currency, and bags of marijuana and crack cocaine.
On September 1, 2022, while his two state prosecutions were pending, Kelly was released from custody after posting bond. On September 15, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Kelly for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was arrested at his home on September 22, 2022, pursuant to that indictment. When officers entered the home, they located a loaded shotgun on the floor of a bathroom. As a convicted felon, Kelly is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.
Defendant: Cory Lee Kelly
Criminal Charges: Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon
City and State: Jacksonville, Florida
Exact Date: April 28, 2022
Sentence or Outcome: A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Kelly faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
Related Federal Cases
- Noah Robert Calderon, Possessing Unregistered Firearm and Receiving Child Pornography, Texas 2023 · Texas
- Erick Mendoza, Bank Robbery, Florida 2024 · Massachusetts
- Jordan Denzel Lewis, Armed Robbery, Florida 2022 · Florida
- Ariel Valero, Armed Bank Robbery, Florida 2019 · Oklahoma
- Florida Man, Assaulting Law Enforcement, Washington DC, 2021 · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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