Kranston Algeno Rolle, Firearms Trafficking, Florida 2023

BRADENTON, FL – Kranston Algeno Rolle, 33, of Bradenton, is headed to federal prison for four years after admitting to illegally trafficking in firearms. U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington handed down the sentence following Rolle’s guilty plea on June 14, 2023. The case highlights the ongoing battle to keep guns out of the hands of those already prohibited from possessing them.

Federal prosecutors detailed how Rolle obtained a Smith & Wesson Model SD9 VE 9mm pistol, a Glock Model 45 .9mm pistol, and a GForce Arms Model GF2P semi-automatic shotgun on December 30, 2022. He then brazenly discharged these weapons at a shooting range in Palmetto. The problem? Rolle knew full well he was a convicted felon, making the mere possession of these firearms a federal crime. He compounded the issue by lying on a liability release form at the range, falsely denying his felonious status while purchasing shotgun shells.

The investigation, a joint effort between the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), uncovered more than just range activity. A March 17, 2022, search of Rolle’s residence turned up two firearms matching those he’d used at the shooting range. Video evidence and photographs confirmed Rolle handling the pistols, solidifying the case against him. He eventually confessed to using the weapons and unlawfully receiving the shotgun.

Rolle’s criminal history is extensive, painting a picture of a repeat offender. Prior convictions include robbery, grand theft of a motor vehicle, felony battery, and fleeing and eluding a police officer. These convictions automatically disqualify him from legally owning firearms or ammunition under federal law. The four-year sentence reflects the seriousness of his repeated disregard for the law and the danger he posed to the public.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W.A. Chee and David P. Sullivan prosecuted the case, emphasizing the government’s commitment to tackling gun violence. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad-based initiative bringing together federal, state, and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime in communities across the country. The program prioritizes building trust with communities, supporting violence prevention efforts, and strategically focusing enforcement.

The Department of Justice launched a renewed emphasis on PSN in May 2021, reinforcing its core principles. For Rolle, however, those principles proved ineffective. He now faces four years in federal prison, a consequence of his deliberate choice to break the law and put firearms into circulation despite his prohibited status. The ATF Tampa Field Division led the federal investigation.

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