Micheal Hankerson, Possessing Firearms as a Convicted Felon, Florida 2023

TAMPA, FL – Micheal Hankerson, 31, of Poinciana, Florida, is headed to federal prison for six years after being convicted of possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber handed down the sentence, along with an order for Hankerson to forfeit the weapons seized during a raid on his residence.

The case began in May 2022 when investigators learned Hankerson, a known high-ranking member of the Fruit Town Brims gang, was harboring a fugitive with outstanding felony warrants from Alachua County. The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force entered Hankerson’s home to apprehend the fugitive, and almost immediately spotted a CZ Scorpion Evo 3 semi-automatic pistol, equipped with a massive 50-round drum magazine, in plain sight within the master bedroom.

Hankerson’s criminal history immediately raised red flags. He had previously served a five-year prison sentence for robbery, making any possession of a firearm a federal offense. A subsequent, court-authorized search of the residence turned up a cache of weapons and ammunition. Investigators discovered the CZ Scorpion was loaded with 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition. More disturbingly, they unearthed the disassembled components of an AR-15 style pistol. The pistol, which had been crudely painted and its serial number deliberately obliterated, was fully functional and capable of firing .223 caliber rounds.

In total, investigators recovered 97 rounds of ammunition, including 9mm, .223 caliber, and 12-gauge shotgun shells. Hankerson initially claimed the CZ Scorpion belonged to his girlfriend, but investigators quickly gathered evidence proving he had purchased and possessed the firearm himself. He admitted to being the highest-ranking member of the Fruit Town Brims gang operating within the state of Florida and confessed to spray-painting the AR-15 components in an attempt to conceal its identity.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore prosecuted the case. The sentencing of Hankerson is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.

PSN focuses on fostering trust with communities, supporting local violence prevention programs, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and carefully tracking results. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who illegally possess firearms, particularly individuals with a history of violent crime and gang affiliation, will be aggressively pursued and brought to justice. The streets of Tampa are a little safer with Hankerson behind bars, but the fight against gang violence is far from over.

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