Tampa Man Convicted for Illegal Firearm Possession, Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison

On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Florida announced the conviction of a Tampa man on charges of possessing a firearm and ammunition. Vincent Luke Governor, Jr., age 34, now potentially faces up to 15 years in federal prison following a federal jury’s decision. According to the

U.S. Department of Justice

, his sentencing is slated for early next year on February 11, 2025.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on August 28, 2022, when Tampa Police Department officers pulled over Governor’s vehicle for a traffic stop. Smelling marijuana coming from the car, officers uncovered a handgun, a Springfield Armory XD pistol, loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition under the driver’s seat while Governor was being removed from the vehicle. Also found in the car were 80 grams of marijuana in multiple bags and a digital scale in the glove compartment, his connection to the firearm was established after a DNA sample from the gun matched Governor.

At the time of his arrest, Governor had a record of previous felony convictions which included burglary of a dwelling, grand theft, possession of burglar tools, and armed robbery. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale is handling the prosecution of the case, which was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department.

This case is part of the broader initiative called Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. “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,” as detailed by the

U.S Department of Justice

.

Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!