Tampa gang member Antonio McCray, 22, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for orchestrating shootings and threatening violence against a child and grandmother.
McCray was found to be a member of the ‘2x’ gang in Hernando County, and was planning to carry out a murder against a rival gang member. In September and October 2022, McCray and his fellow gang members went to a residence in Hernando County, surrounding the house and shooting the windows, front door, and back sliding door. Two minor children were present at the time of the shooting, and bullets came through the window of a 9-year-old girl’s room.
On October 29, 2022, detectives from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle, finding McCray in possession of a Hellcat Pistol. His DNA was found on the firearm, and FDLE revealed a correlation between the Springfield firearm and shell casings recovered from one of the shootings.
McCray had multiple prior felony convictions, including burglary of a conveyance while armed, burglary (6 counts), and dealing in stolen property. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
Additional text messages on McCray’s phone revealed threats against individuals who owed him a drug debt. He threatened to ‘torture’ a grandmother and harm a family member if they didn’t pay him back by Thursday.
The case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence, and making communities safer for everyone. The program brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to foster trust and legitimacy, support community-based organizations, and set focused enforcement priorities.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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