TAMPA, FL – A surge of federal indictments targeting firearms and violent crime swept through Florida’s Middle District in 2023, with 167 defendants facing charges, according to U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. The crackdown, fueled by the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy, resulted in the seizure of approximately 445 firearms. The numbers, released Friday, paint a stark picture of escalating gun violence and the federal response.
The most brutal case detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office centers on Edward James Bess III, 29, of Fort Myers. Bess was sentenced to 33 years and 4 months for a pair of terrifying carjackings. In one incident, Bess didn’t just steal a vehicle; he shot the victim in the leg before speeding away. The victim survived, but carries the scars of Bess’s callous violence. Bess then escalated his spree, carjacking a second victim in Sumter County before a law enforcement chase finally brought him down. He was convicted of carjacking causing serious bodily injury, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and a second carjacking.
Beyond the particularly heinous actions of Bess, the PSN strategy yielded a steady stream of arrests. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, ending December 31, 2023, another 41 defendants were indicted for federal firearms and violent crime offenses, with 93 firearms yanked off the streets. This relentless pressure on known offenders is the core of PSN, which aims to identify and prosecute those most responsible for driving up violent crime rates.
The federal push isn’t solely focused on arrests and seizures. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also made a concerted effort to engage with the community, hoping to prevent violence before it happens. In the first quarter of 2024, officials spoke to over 200 middle and high school students, and held meetings with college and law students to discuss firearm and violent crime prevention. Re-entry programs at Baker Re-entry Center and Lawtey Correctional Institute reached nearly 100 inmates, attempting to steer them away from a life of crime upon release.
Another significant case highlighted by the DOJ involved Jesse Rance Moore, 46, of Bell, who was found guilty in November 2023 of four counts pertaining to Hobbs Act robberies and three counts of brandishing a firearm. Moore allegedly terrorized a string of pharmacies in the Columbia County area, robbing them at gunpoint and demanding controlled substances like oxycodone, oxycontin and Percocet. Surveillance footage captured a masked man – later identified as Moore – exiting a blue/grey sedan and threatening employees during the robberies. The full sentencing for Moore has not yet been released.
“Our office is committed to reducing violent crime throughout the Middle District of Florida,” U.S. Attorney Handberg stated. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners and community stakeholders as part of our joint effort to make our communities safer.” While the numbers offer a glimpse of the ongoing struggle against gun violence, the true test will be whether these indictments and community programs translate into a sustained reduction in crime rates across the region. The Grimy Times will continue to track these developments.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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