TAMPA, FL – Raymond Adams, 29, of St. Petersburg, is staring down a lengthy federal prison sentence after admitting today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying that weapon during a planned drug trafficking crime. Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announced the guilty plea, which carries a minimum mandatory penalty of five years, and a maximum of life, behind bars.
The case, laid out in a plea agreement, details a brazen attempt by Adams and accomplices to break into a St. Petersburg residence with the intent of stealing marijuana. The plan wasn’t just about the drugs, though; the intent was to redistribute the stolen weed. Adams, already a convicted felon, was armed with a 9-mm handgun during the attempted burglary. When St. Petersburg Police arrived on the scene, chaos erupted.
According to court documents, Adams and his crew fled in a vehicle, quickly crashing and then scattering on foot. Adams ditched the 9-mm, tossing it into a trash can in a desperate attempt to evade capture. Officers quickly recovered the weapon, linking it directly to the attempted burglary and Adams himself. The discarded firearm now serves as damning evidence against him.
The fact that Adams was even in possession of a firearm is a federal offense. His 2010 manslaughter conviction permanently stripped him of the right to own or possess any firearms or ammunition. This isn’t a first offense; it’s a repeat offender knowingly breaking the law, escalating the seriousness of the charges.
The investigation was a joint effort between the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney James C. Preston, Jr. is prosecuting the case, ensuring Adams is held accountable for his actions. Special Agent in Charge Daryl R. McCrary of the ATF is coordinating the local “Project Safe Neighborhoods” initiative.
This case isn’t isolated. It’s part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program, a nationwide strategy aimed at reducing gun violence. It also falls under the St. Petersburg Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, a concentrated effort to tackle crime in the city. The message is clear: federal and local authorities are working together to dismantle criminal networks and get guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them. A sentencing date has not yet been set for Adams.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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