Deandre Riviera Lopez, Armed Career Criminal, Florida 2023

Tampa, Fla. – In a shocking turn of events, a local felon has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm. Deandre Riviera Lopez, 33, was arrested on May 15, 2022, by officers from the Tampa Police Department (TPD) on an active felony warrant from the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County.

According to court documents, during Lopez’s arrest, officers observed him blade his body and appear to reach for an item near his waist. A search of Lopez revealed a Century Arms ‘Canik’ TP9 Elite Combat semi-automatic pistol tucked near Lopez’s right waist. The firearm was loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. Lopez later admitted that he always carried a firearm for personal protection and that he had owned the pistol for several months.

At the time of his arrest, Lopez had multiple prior felony convictions and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This blatant disregard for the law has led to a stiff sentence for Lopez.

The case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Samantha J. Newman prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in local communities. By bringing together law enforcement and community leaders, PSN hopes to create safer neighborhoods for everyone.

The defendant, Deandre Riviera Lopez, was sentenced on June 29, 2023, to 15 years in federal prison. His crime: possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The exact charges against him were not specified in the source material. However, it is clear that Lopez’s actions were a serious threat to public safety.

The city of Tampa, Florida, was the location of the crime, and the state of Florida was the jurisdiction. Lopez’s sentence is a harsh reminder that violating federal law will not be tolerated.

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