ORLANDO, FL – Robert Lee Pringle, 35, of Orlando, is headed to federal prison for a decade after pleading guilty to possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. handed down the 10-year sentence on Wednesday, along with an order for Pringle to forfeit the weapons and ammo used in the crime.
The case began on May 3, 2022, when an Orlando Police Department officer spotted Pringle driving a stolen vehicle. Instead of stopping, Pringle floored it, leading officers on a high-speed chase that ended when he slammed into another car. Even after the crash, Pringle tried to ditch the vehicle and run, but was quickly apprehended.
A search of the wrecked stolen car revealed a disturbing cache: two pistols and a supply of ammunition resting on the front passenger floorboard. Authorities also found a backpack filled with Pringle’s personal identification, prescription bottles in his name, what appeared to be narcotics, digital scales for weighing drugs, and plastic baggies commonly used for packaging illegal substances. The evidence painted a clear picture of Pringle’s criminal activities beyond just the gun charge.
But the firearms charge wasn’t just about the guns found in the car. Pringle’s lengthy rap sheet already included multiple felony convictions – carrying a concealed firearm, robbery, burglary of a conveyance, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft, and fleeing from law enforcement. These prior convictions legally barred him from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition under federal law, making his latest offense a serious federal crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Orlando Police Department teamed up to investigate the case, building a solid case against Pringle. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and the lengthy prison sentence.
Federal officials say this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together law enforcement at all levels and the communities they serve. The program emphasizes building trust, supporting community organizations, and focusing enforcement efforts on the most dangerous offenders. Pringle, with his history and the weapons found in the stolen vehicle, clearly fits that description.
Related Federal Cases
- Noah Robert Calderon, Possession of a Destructive Device, Burleson … · Florida
- Etavious J. Milton Faces Federal Gun Possession Charge, Tallahassee… · Virginia
- Patrick Willie Smith, Gun Possession with Loaded Firearm, FL 2024 · Virginia
- Brandon Williams, Heroin and Gun Possession, Florida 2015 · Virginia
- Chamberlain Chaney, Gun Possession with Stolen Firearm, FL 2024 · Virginia
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons