Jose Manuel Caraballo-Torres, Gun Possession, Florida 2026

A previously convicted felon from Fort Myers, Florida, has pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge. Jose Manuel Caraballo-Torres (39, Fort Myers) faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

The sentencing is set for May 22, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, on September 27, 2025, Caraballo-Torres was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for speeding by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy removed the passengers, one by one, and conducted a pat down for the deputy’s safety.

During the pat down of Caraballo-Torres, the deputy located a loaded Ruger LCP .380 caliber pistol on Caraballo-Torres’s person. This firearm had been reported stolen out of Orlando. As a previously convicted felon, Caraballo-Torres is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the state to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Defendant: Jose Manuel Caraballo-Torres

Criminal Charges: Possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon

City and State: Fort Myers, Florida

Exact Date: September 27, 2025

Sentence or Outcome: Faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/previously-convicted-felon-fort-myers-pleads-guilty-federal-gun-charge