Ocala, Florida - Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Woodrow Milton Butler (40, Mount Dora) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Butler had pleaded guilty on Feb. 1, 2023.
According to court records, Butler has nine prior state felony convictions, including armed burglary of a dwelling, sale of cocaine, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement. On March 21, 2019, officers from the Eustis Police Department responded to a call about a suspicious person and discovered Butler with a stolen handgun in his pants pocket. The firearm was loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition. As a convicted felon, Butler is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the City of Eustis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk and Tyrie Boyer.
The 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.