TAMPA, FL – A brazen roadside threat turned into a nearly six-year federal prison sentence for Karey Tyrone Taylor II, 42, of Tampa. U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday handed down 5 years and 11 months to Taylor this week for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge stemming from a January 2021 incident where he brandished a handgun at a female driver.
The victim was driving on East Fowler Avenue when Taylor allegedly pulled alongside her and brandished a firearm. She managed to pull into a nearby carwash, hoping to escape the escalating situation. But Taylor followed, confronting her face-to-face. According to court documents, Taylor chillingly told the woman that had he known she was “all that,” he wouldn’t have pulled the gun. Thankfully, carwash employees intervened, witnessing the encounter and promptly calling the police.
Tampa Police Department officers arrived quickly and located Taylor in a vehicle matching the description provided by the victim. A search of the SUV revealed a black Taurus .45 caliber handgun, loaded with one round in the chamber and 14 in the magazine. Subsequent DNA analysis confirmed Taylor’s genetic material was present on the weapon. The discovery wasn’t just about the immediate threat; it was about a repeat offender breaking the law yet again.
Taylor’s criminal history is extensive. He’s a convicted felon, previously sentenced in the Middle District of Florida for both possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and distributing controlled substances. Federal law explicitly prohibits individuals with such convictions from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This wasn’t a first offense, but a flagrant disregard for the law and a dangerous escalation of prior crimes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), alongside the Tampa Police Department, spearheaded the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Risha Asokan and Patrick Scruggs successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence. The court also ordered Taylor to forfeit the firearm and magazine used in the commission of the crime.
Federal officials framed the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a multi-faceted initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, prevention programs, focused enforcement, and measurable results. While PSN touts broad goals, the outcome for Taylor is a stark reminder that illegally possessing and brandishing a firearm carries severe consequences.
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