Oscar Freemond Fowler III, Gun and Cocaine Possession, Florida 2024

TAMPA, FL – Oscar Freemond Fowler III, a 48-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, is headed to federal prison for over a decade after being sentenced to 12 years and 6 months for possessing a firearm and cocaine. Fowler, already a convicted felon, was found with the weapon and drugs during a raid on his home last October, authorities say.

According to court documents, a joint operation between the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant at Fowler’s residence. The search turned up not only cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, but also a loaded 9mm pistol with an extended magazine holding 29 rounds. The discovery landed Fowler in hot water, given his extensive criminal history.

Fowler’s rap sheet includes multiple prior felony convictions: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Federal law prohibits anyone with such convictions from owning a firearm or ammunition, a fact that clearly didn’t deter Fowler. He pleaded guilty on January 4, 2024, and faced the judge on Tuesday, April 9th.

“This is another example of how the ongoing collaboration with our state and federal partners assisted us in removing a dangerous felon and reducing gun violence in our community,” stated St. Petersburg Chief of Police Anthony Holloway. The sentiment was echoed by ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard, who called Fowler a “notorious and violent trigger-puller” and celebrated his lengthy sentence.

Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan prosecuted the case. The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF and the St. Petersburg Police Department. The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities.

The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. While the program aims to improve neighborhoods, the Fowler case serves as a stark reminder of the constant battle against repeat offenders and the illegal flow of firearms and drugs on the streets of St. Petersburg.

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