Niko Wimbley, Possessing Loaded Firearm, Florida 2021

Tampa, FL – In a shocking turn of events, Niko Wimbley, an eight-time convicted felon, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing a loaded firearm. According to court documents, Wimbley had pleaded guilty on January 12, 2023.

On December 26, 2021, Wimbley was driving a stolen sedan in the Rivergrove neighborhood of Tampa, near the intersection of East Sligh Avenue and Rowlett Park Drive. He was accompanied by another convicted felon, who was also armed with a fully loaded, semi-automatic pistol. The officers had followed the stolen vehicle until Wimbley and his passenger exited the car. When ordered to stop, both men fled on foot, leaving behind their loaded semi-automatic pistols in the stolen vehicle.

During a search of the stolen car, the officers recovered a loaded black SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol on the driver’s seat, and a loaded black Springfield XDS (HS Produkt) .45 caliber pistol in the passenger side footwell. Wimbley’s DNA was found on the SCCY CPX-1 pistol. Wimbley agreed to forfeit the pistol and ammunition, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The program is based on core principles of fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.

Niko Wimbley, 30, of Tampa, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence serves as a stern warning to those who think they can flout the law and get away with it.

This case is a prime example of the importance of community-based programs in reducing violent crime and gun violence. By working together, we can make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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