TAMPA, FL – Terrence Thompson, 42, of Sarasota, is headed to federal prison for six years after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung, capping a case that began with a late-night disturbance and ended with Thompson tossing a loaded handgun into the bushes.
The trouble started December 9, 2022, when the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received a 911 call reporting a disturbance involving Thompson. Deputies didn’t just respond – they pursued. The SCSO Aviation Unit, using its helicopter, tracked Thompson’s vehicle as he fled the scene near Lalani Boulevard and Bee Ridge Road. That aerial view proved critical when the camera captured Thompson yanking a pistol-shaped object from his vehicle and throwing it into the undergrowth near Crescent Ridge Road and Bee Ridge Road.
A search of the area quickly turned up the discarded weapon: a loaded Bersa Thunder 380. Thompson was apprehended shortly after, and during questioning by ATF agents, he admitted to being a convicted felon – a status that legally bars him from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition. He also confessed to deliberately ditching the pistol when he realized the helicopter was onto him. This wasn’t a simple mistake; it was a calculated attempt to conceal evidence.
Thompson’s past isn’t a secret. The Justice Department didn’t detail the prior convictions, but his status as a “multi-time convicted felon” suggests a pattern of criminal behavior. Federal law is clear: those with prior felony convictions are not allowed to possess guns, and Thompson knowingly violated that law. This case isn’t about a first-time offense; it’s about a repeat offender ignoring the rules and putting the community at risk.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Diego F. Novaes prosecuted the case. This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.
The Department of Justice launched a renewed focus on PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, and strategic enforcement. While programs are important, the reality is that putting repeat offenders like Thompson behind bars is a direct way to address immediate threats and send a message that illegal gun possession will not be tolerated. Six years may not solve all of Sarasota’s problems, but it’s a start.
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- Derrick Shane McCullough, Gun Possession by Felon, WV 2016 · Virginia
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