Cristian Burgos, Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Florida 2023

ORLANDO, FL – Cristian Burgos, 25, of Kissimmee, is headed to federal prison for seven years after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger handed down the sentence Wednesday, along with an order for Burgos to forfeit the Glock and Anderson Manufacturing rifle used in the crimes.

The case stems from a January 29th traffic stop by the Orlando Police Department. Officers discovered Burgos was driving a carjacked vehicle and initiated a pursuit. After a brief foot chase, Burgos was apprehended, and a Glock firearm and Anderson Manufacturing rifle were found inside the stolen car. Ballistics testing later linked the rifle directly to two separate shootings that rocked Orlando in October 2022.

This wasn’t Burgos’ first brush with the law. Court records reveal he had already been convicted in Florida state court on four counts of robbery with a firearm. That conviction alone should have kept him far away from any weapon, but Burgos brazenly violated federal law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition. The ATF, Orlando PD, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office all contributed to the investigation.

But the federal charges are just part of the legal storm facing Burgos. He is still awaiting trial in state court on six counts of attempted murder and two counts of shooting into a building – all related to those October 2022 Orlando shootings. If convicted on those charges, Burgos could face significantly more time behind bars.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff prosecuted the federal case. The Justice Department highlighted this case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. The program focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategically targeting enforcement efforts.

The seven-year sentence sends a clear message: possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon – especially when that firearm is tied to violent crime – will not be tolerated. The ATF’s Tampa Field Division spearheaded the investigation, underscoring the agency’s commitment to keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who would misuse them. The streets of Orlando are a little safer now that Burgos is off them, but the lingering questions about the victims of those October shootings remain.

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