Kwasi Francis, Gun Possession, Florida 2019

Ocala, Florida has seen another case of a convicted felon possessing a firearm, with 29-year-old Kwasi Francis facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

In a shocking turn of events, Francis pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, a charge that stems from an incident on May 7, 2019. Local law enforcement arrested Francis on unrelated criminal charges, and while he was being processed at the Marion County Jail, booking staff discovered a loaded 9mm firearm concealed between the multiple pairs of pants that he was wearing.

Francis, who has prior felony convictions for burglary and heroin distribution, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This discovery has raised concerns about the leniency of the justice system and the ease with which felons can obtain firearms.

The case against Francis was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Ocala Police Department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr. is prosecuting the case.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a centerpiece of the federal government's violent crime reduction efforts, is being credited with bringing Francis to justice. PSN is an evidence-based program that has been proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, and it focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders while partnering with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

As part of the PSN strategy, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates efforts in the Middle District of Florida, working with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to identify and address the most pressing violent crime problems in the community.

Francis is currently awaiting sentencing, and a date has not yet been set. His guilty plea is a significant blow to those who seek to circumvent the law and possess firearms as convicted felons.

In light of this case, the community is left to wonder how such incidents can be prevented in the future and what measures can be taken to ensure that convicted felons do not have access to firearms.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/ocala-convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-federal-firearm-offense