Fort Myers, Florida – The grim streets of North Fort Myers saw justice served today as Michael Lee Stover, a 37-year-old repeat offender from the area, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
Stover’s offense reached its nadir on April 3, 2025, when he shockingly snatched a firearm from the hood of another man’s car at a local carwash. The audacity of his action did not end there; Stover fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of fear and lawlessness.
However, justice caught up with him swiftly. Deputies executed a search warrant on Stover’s North Fort Myers residence and uncovered the stolen firearm he had so brazenly taken. The court also ordered Stover to forfeit the firearm and ammunition involved in the offense.
This is no first-time crime for Stover. His record reads like a catalog of criminal activities, with five felony convictions including escape from custody (2021), fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer (2021), burglary (2011), aggravated battery (2011), and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (2009). Federal law clearly bans him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan prosecuted it. This sentence is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative that combats illegal immigration, eliminates cartels, and protects communities from violent crime.
Operation Take Back America leverages resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), showcasing a concerted effort to make Fort Myers safer for its citizens.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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