Felon Willie Hunter Jr. Locked Up for Gun Possession

Fort Myers, FL – In a move to keep the streets of Fort Myers safe, U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Willie Hunter Jr., 22, to three years in federal prison for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on November 30, 2023, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department were on patrol in the area of Palm Avenue and Douglas Street when they observed a vehicle with illegal dark window tint in violation of Florida law. An officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle with his lights and sirens, but the vehicle accelerated into the parking lot of a convenience store.

After reaching the parking lot, the front passenger, later identified as Hunter, got out of the vehicle and proceeded into the convenience store. The vehicle then fled, as Hunter walked into the store. Officers located Hunter in the convenience store while additional officers pursued the vehicle. The vehicle was later found abandoned and officers located two firearms inside the vehicle.

Fingerprint analysis linked Hunter to possessing one of those firearms. At the time, Hunter had multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of firearm by a delinquent and aggravated assault with deadly weapon. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. With this sentencing, the PSN program continues to show its effectiveness in keeping our communities safe.