TAMPA, FL – Kenneth Lorenzo Jackson, 48, of Del Rio, is staring down a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing ammunition. The plea, entered this week, stems from a routine traffic stop that quickly turned up a hidden firearm and a history of prior convictions that bar him from owning weapons.
The bust went down in the early hours of May 12, 2022, when a Tampa Police Department officer pulled Jackson over near Bush Boulevard and 14th Street North for a simple seatbelt violation. But things escalated quickly. As Jackson fumbled for his documents, grabbing a backpack from the passenger side, the officer spotted the unmistakable outline of a gun inside. The officer seized the bag, and Jackson was immediately detained.
A search revealed more than just the firearm. Officers found multiple plastic baggies of Dimethylpentylone, a Schedule I controlled substance, stuffed in Jackson’s pockets. Inside the backpack was a Rohm Gesellschaft RG-12 .22 caliber handgun and six rounds of ammunition. A subsequent search of Jackson’s grey Dodge Caliber also turned up a small amount of suspected cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The evidence paints a picture of a man actively involved in the drug trade, and brazen enough to carry a loaded weapon despite his criminal record.
Jackson isn’t some first-time offender. He’s a multiple-time convicted felon whose right to possess firearms or ammunition hasn’t been restored. Federal law clearly prohibits him from having either, a fact he acknowledged at the time of the offense. This wasn’t a case of ignorance; it was a deliberate flouting of the law, a calculated risk taken by a career criminal.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tampa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Shauna S. Hale are prosecuting the case, which is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) – a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities.
While the sentencing date hasn’t been set, the mandatory minimum of 15 years under the Armed Career Criminal Act suggests Jackson will be spending a significant portion of his life behind bars. This case serves as a stark reminder that those with a history of violent crime who continue to possess firearms will face the full force of federal law.
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