Earl Vincent Hudgins III, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Florida 2025

Pensacola resident Earl Vincent Hudgins III, 32, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on February 16, 2025, Hudgins’ vehicle was stopped for a traffic infraction, which led to a search that uncovered an AR-style firearm loaded with 15 rounds of .300-caliber ammunition. The defendant, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing the firearm.

Later, law enforcement identified multiple posts on Hudgins’ social media showing him in possession of the same firearm, which was discovered during the traffic stop. The defendant also posted a video during the traffic stop captioned, ‘Bout to go to jail.’

This case was a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.

Hudgins was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release for the offense. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.

Related Federal Cases