A convicted felon who attempted to purchase a firearm from a pawn shop in Jacksonville, Florida, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
Dontae Edwards, 31, of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty on July 20, 2022, to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer.
According to court documents, Edwards attempted to purchase a .40 caliber pistol from a pawn shop in the Mayport area on an undisclosed date. He completed the required paperwork and claimed that he was not a convicted felon.
However, Edwards had five prior felony convictions, including a 2017 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The pawn shop, also a federally licensed gun dealer, performed a background check on Edwards through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and the purchase was denied.
All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot and was previously prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Cyrus Zomorodian.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The case highlights the importance of background checks in preventing firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
Defendant: Dontae Edwards
Criminal Charges: Making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer
City and State: Jacksonville, Florida
Exact Date: July 20, 2022 (sentencing)
Sentence or Outcome: 18 months in federal prison
Focus Keyword: Convicted felon Dontae Edwards sentenced to 18 months in prison
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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