TAMPA, FL – Robert Humberston, 39, of Sarasota, Florida, is headed to federal prison for six years after admitting to peddling firearms to a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Covington handed down the sentence yesterday, February 21, 2023, following Humberston’s guilty plea in December 2021.
The case unraveled after a routine probation search in March 2021 turned up three firearms in the possession of a man already legally barred from owning them. The felon quickly identified Humberston as the source, claiming he’d purchased the weapons as recently as January 2021. Crucially, the felon provided investigators with a digital paper trail: a series of Facebook messages detailing the arrangement for a firearm sale with Humberston.
Federal investigators didn’t stop there. They secured a warrant to scour Humberston’s Facebook account, and the results were damning. The profile was littered with images of Humberston brandishing various firearms, alongside a trove of posts and messages clearly indicating his involvement in firearm sales. The messages corroborating the sale to the convicted felon were a key piece of evidence, along with identifying tattoos visible in the photos that matched those on Humberston himself.
Humberston’s criminal history is extensive. He already carries multiple prior felony convictions, making him legally prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition. This wasn’t a simple oversight; it was a deliberate flouting of federal law, contributing directly to the flow of weapons into the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), alongside the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, spearheaded the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on digital evidence and the testimony of the felon who admitted purchasing the guns. This case is being touted as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.
PSN, recently bolstered by a new Department of Justice strategy, emphasizes community trust, support for local organizations, targeted enforcement, and measurable results. While the program’s effectiveness remains a subject of debate, authorities hope this conviction sends a clear message: supplying firearms to convicted felons will not be tolerated, and those who do will face significant federal penalties. Humberston’s six-year sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences.
Related Federal Cases
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons