ORLANDO, FL – Robert Lee Pringle, 35, of Orlando, is facing a potential decade in federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. The guilty plea, entered earlier this week, caps a case stemming from a reckless May 2022 flight from police in a stolen vehicle.
According to court documents, the chase ended when Pringle crashed into another vehicle. A search of the wreckage revealed a cache of weaponry: two firearms were found on the passenger side floor, alongside a pistol magazine on the driver’s side. A backpack on the passenger floor contained paperwork and prescription bottles linking the items to Pringle, along with suspected narcotics, digital scales, baggies, and 9mm bullets. The incident wasn’t a simple traffic stop gone wrong; it was a clear escalation by a repeat offender.
Pringle’s criminal history is extensive. Court records show multiple prior felony convictions, including carrying a concealed firearm, robbery, burglary of a conveyance, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft, and fleeing from law enforcement at high speed. Federal law explicitly prohibits individuals with such a record from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This wasn’t his first dance with the law, and investigators believe he knew the risks.
The case was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Orlando Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman is prosecuting the case, and will be seeking the maximum penalty allowed – up to 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, leaving Pringle to await his fate.
Federal officials are framing the prosecution as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN),” a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through increased collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The program prioritizes building trust, supporting community organizations, and strategically focusing enforcement efforts.
Pringle’s plea serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against illegal firearms and the dangers posed by repeat offenders. The ATF’s Tampa Field Division played a key role in the investigation, highlighting the agency’s commitment to disrupting criminal activity and keeping dangerous weapons off the streets. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves toward sentencing.
Related Federal Cases
- Noah Robert Calderon, Possession of a Destructive Device, Burleson … · Florida
- Shem Wayne Alexander, Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms, Tampa FL, 2023 · Florida
- Miguel Quinones Admits to Federal Firearms Possession, Charleston W… · Virginia
- Jimmy Don McCoy, Jr. Sentenced for Firearms Theft, Tulsa OK, 2023 · Oklahoma
- Tone Calle, Illegal Spearfishing, FL 2016 · Florida
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons