FORT MYERS, FL – Shaborn Washington, 29, of Palmetto, Florida, is headed to federal prison for eight years and four months after a judge found him guilty of possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell handed down the sentence, along with an order for Washington to forfeit the weapon and ammunition seized during his arrest.
The case unfolded in the early hours of January 16, 2021, when a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over the vehicle Washington was riding in near the Miromar Outlets in Estero. According to court records, Washington attempted to conceal something under the backseat as the deputy approached. A subsequent search revealed a black bag stashed beneath the seat, containing a loaded handgun.
Investigators quickly linked Washington to the firearm through DNA analysis. The grim reality? Washington wasn’t just any gun owner; he was a recently released convict, having previously served time for selling cocaine. Federal law explicitly prohibits convicted felons like Washington from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office jointly investigated the case, building a solid case that culminated in Washington’s conviction following a bench trial on February 23rd. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon R. Eth prosecuted the case, securing the lengthy prison sentence.
Federal officials are framing Washington’s conviction as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program, they claim, focuses on building trust with communities and strategically targeting enforcement efforts.
But for Washington, the initiatives and promises of safer neighborhoods mean little. He’s trading the streets of Palmetto for a federal prison cell, facing over eight years to answer for a simple, damning fact: a convicted felon illegally possessing a loaded weapon. The forfeited firearm serves as a cold reminder of the consequences for those who disregard the law.
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