Tampa, FL – A 45-year-old Englewood man has been sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich handed down the sentence to Ernest L. Chambliss, who was found guilty by a federal jury on December 2, 2016.
According to testimony at trial, Chambliss, a drug dealer in Englewood, sold a firearm and prescription opiates to a confidential informant in April 2015.
At the time, Chambliss had numerous prior felony convictions, including five drug-trafficking offenses and two charges of battery on a law enforcement officer.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory T. Nolan and Christopher Murray.
This case is another example of the efforts made by law enforcement agencies to combat gun violence in the Middle District of Florida.
As part of the ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ Program, Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow and Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, are working together with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to reduce gun violence.
The ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ Program aims to reduce gun violence by targeting individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms due to their criminal history.
Ernest L. Chambliss’s sentence serves as a reminder that possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a serious crime with severe consequences.
Chambliss will serve his sentence in a federal prison, where he will have access to various programs and services designed to help him rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.
Contact: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida – Public Affairs Officer
Tel: 813-274-5144
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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