Jason Deon Thomas, Cocaine and Marijuana Possession, Florida 2013

Tampa, FL – A St. Petersburg man, known as a doomsday prepper, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Jason Deon Thomas, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven for the crimes, which were discovered during a search warrant executed by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on February 7, 2013.

Law enforcement officers found 29 firearms, including six assault rifles, five shotguns, 17 handguns, a machine gun, a silencer, four bullet proof vests, and thousands of rounds of ammunition in Thomas’ residence. Additionally, they discovered distribution amounts of marijuana, cocaine, a quantity of prescription drugs, and $7,390 in cash.

Thomas had previously been convicted of felony drug trafficking offenses and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. In court filings, he claimed to be a doomsday prepper, stockpiling the items to prepare for the end of the world.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

This case is part of the federal government’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a nationwide gun-violence reduction strategy. The effort is coordinated by United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill and Julie Torres, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

Thomas pleaded guilty to the charges on March 8, 2013, and was ordered to forfeit the firearms, ammunition, and $7,390 in cash, which were traceable to the offenses.

The sentencing is a significant blow to Thomas’ doomsday prepping operation, which had stockpiled a significant amount of firepower and ammunition. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of enforcing federal laws related to firearms and ammunition.

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