Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Raequan M. Nelson (24, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Nelson to forfeit the firearm and ammunition. Nelson had pleaded guilty on Sept. 26, 2022.
According to court documents, on Feb. 13, 2022, Nelson had two warrants for his arrest in Hillsborough County. Officers from the Tampa Police Department located Nelson in Tampa. When Nelson entered his car, the officers executed a “box-in" to stop Nelson from leaving the scene. Nelson responded by trying to flee. Once detained, law enforcement removed a loaded Glock 9mm pistol from Nelson’s right front pocket. At the time, Nelson had multiple prior felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys