Dwayne Eric Thompson, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Florida 2023

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Dwayne Eric Thompson, 39, of Jacksonville, is facing up to 15 years in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The verdict, handed down Thursday, adds another chapter to Thompson’s already extensive run-ins with the law.

The case unfolded after Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers, acting on an outstanding warrant, pulled over Thompson. A search of his vehicle revealed a loaded pistol tucked away in the center console. Thompson and his passengers initially denied any knowledge of the weapon, but investigators weren’t buying it.

Federal prosecutors presented damning DNA evidence linking Thompson directly to the firearm and its loaded magazine. This wasn’t Thompson’s first rodeo. He was already on federal supervised release, having previously been convicted in 2010 of – you guessed it – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A repeat offender, clearly unfazed by the law.

Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro successfully argued that Thompson’s prior convictions legally barred him from possessing any firearm or ammunition. The prosecution, bolstered by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, built a solid case against the defendant.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, led by Roger B. Handberg, is prosecuting the case, with Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran handling the forfeiture proceedings. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” initiative, a nationwide program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaborative law enforcement efforts.

While authorities tout PSN’s success, the reality on Jacksonville’s streets remains grim. Thompson’s conviction, while a win for the system, is just one battle in a never-ending war against illegal firearms and repeat offenders. A sentencing date has not yet been set, leaving Thompson’s fate hanging in the balance – but a lengthy prison term seems all but certain.

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