Willie Lee Lewis, Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon, Florida 2018

A 20-time convicted felon from Ocala, Florida, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Willie Lee Lewis, 47, was arrested in 2018 after leading a police officer on a low-speed chase and discarding a loaded pistol, cocaine, and marijuana from the window of his van.

According to the plea agreement, on November 28, 2018, a City of Ocala police officer attempted to stop Lewis for a tag violation. Rather than pulling over, Lewis led the officer on a low-speed chase during which Lewis discarded a loaded pistol, cocaine, and marijuana from the window of his van. Police recovered these items and arrested Lewis, who subsequently placed a recorded telephone call from the county jail in which he described the firearm and drugs that he had tossed from the van's window.

Lewis has 20 prior felony convictions that include multiple drug sales and illegal firearm offenses, thus qualifying him for enhanced sentencing as an Armed Career Criminal.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ocala Police Department jointly investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This case is another example of the Department of Justice's commitment to reducing violent crime in communities. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's 'Project Safe Neighborhoods' Program, which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.

Lewis faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He was indicted on February 13, 2019.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/20-time-convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-federal-firearms-charge