MIAMI, FL – Ernell Shaw, a 47-year-old resident of Ft. Lauderdale, is headed to federal prison for 25 years after being convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as an Armed Career Criminal. U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman handed down the 300-month sentence on January 12th, with an additional three years of supervised release tacked on after Shaw’s release.
The bust went down on March 8, 2022, when detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Crime Suppression Team and V.I.P.E.R. Unit spotted Shaw behind the wheel in Lauderhill, Florida. A routine traffic stop quickly escalated when detectives discovered Shaw was packing a stolen, loaded Sig Sauer .380 caliber firearm, a spare magazine, and narcotics. The vehicle was stopped due to multiple traffic violations, according to court records.
Shaw’s lengthy rap sheet played a major role in the severe sentencing. Prosecutors highlighted his extensive criminal history, revealing 28 prior arrests and nine convictions. The list of offenses includes three prior convictions for armed robbery with a firearm, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, and a string of other violent crimes. This wasn’t a first-time offender; it was a repeat predator.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, alongside ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson and BSO Sheriff Gregory Tony, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the ATF’s Fort Lauderdale Field Office and the BSO, demonstrating the power of interagency cooperation in tackling violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton led the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Grove handling the asset forfeiture portion of the case. The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to unite law enforcement at all levels to combat violent crime and bolster community safety. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017, emphasizing partnerships to develop effective, localized strategies.
This sentencing serves as a stark warning: those who repeatedly turn to violence and illegally possess firearms will face the full force of federal law. Shaw’s 25-year sentence removes a dangerous individual from the streets of South Florida and sends a message that the ATF and BSO are committed to protecting the public from career criminals like him.
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