Tampa Field Division
Photo by Peter Stewart as part of the Tampa Public Art Collection
Welcome to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Tampa Field Division. Our Division is responsible for ATF criminal enforcement and industry regulatory activities in 58 of the 67 counties in the State of Florida. The ATF Tampa Field Division encompasses over 44,370 sq. miles with a population of more than 12 million people. The Tampa Field Division consists of two Federal Judicial Districts, the Northern and Middle Judicial Districts of Florida.
Our dedicated workforce is comprised of special agents, investigators, auditors, technicians and support staff. ATF is committed to reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods. ATF is dedicated to combating firearm violence by focusing our investigative efforts on armed violent repeat offenders, career criminals, gun traffickers and gangs. We also work in partnership with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout Florida to accomplish this mission.
Explosives and arson enforcement is an integral part of ATF’s overall violent crime reduction strategy. ATF special agents combat arson and explosives related crimes by conducting complex independent investigations and by working in partnership with local and state fire investigators and police bomb squads.
ATF is responsible for regulating the firearms and explosives industries. Our industry operations investigators work to ensure that firearms are properly transferred and that explosives are stored and conveyed in accordance with the law.
We encourage all residents to get involved and assist us in our goal of reducing crime in our communities. Give us a call and let us know what we can do for you. Our phone number is (813) 202-7300.
Virginia O’Brien
Division Management Team
- Virginia O’Brien
- Special Agent In Charge (SAC)
- John F. Ryan
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Scott McCampbell
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Colleen M. Then
- Director of Industry Operations (DIO)
- Vacant
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
Division Contact Information
Receive Tampa Press Release Updates
Possession of Sawed Off Shotguns Earns Felon Ten Years in Prison
February 3, 2012
Tampa, Florida — U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew yesterday sentenced Dwain Denorris Wallace, III (40, Tampa) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of two short–barreled shotguns. The court also ordered Wallace to forfeit both guns and the ammunition.More »
Orange County Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison
January 26, 2012
Orlando, Florida – U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway today sentenced Leonard Johnson (38, Orlando) to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Johnson previously pled guilty on August 4, 2011.More »
Tampa Convenience Store Operator Convicted of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm
January 19, 2012
TAMPA, FL — U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that a federal jury today found Khaldoun Khalil Khawaja (47, Tampa), aka Tony Khawaja, guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Khawaja, who was indicted on August 4, 2011, faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 4, 2012.More »
Gangster Disciple Street Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Federal Prison
January 18, 2012
Tampa, Florida — U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. today sentenced James Jason Riani, a/k/a Wicked
, (32, Spring Hill) to 24 years and 7 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute Methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This sentence was ordered to be served consecutive to a recent 5–year Florida prison sentence which Riani received for battery on another prison inmate. The court also ordered Riani to forfeit his firearms and ammunition.More »
Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to 30 Years
January 17, 2012
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Elmario Clay (38, Jacksonville) to thirty years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.More »
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Charges of Interstate Firearms Trafficking and False Statements to Federal Agents
January 12, 2012
Orlando, Florida — United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that Luis Velazquez–Pinero (39, New Jersey) today pleaded guilty to interstate trafficking in firearms and making a false statement to a federal agency. Velazquez–Pinero faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.More »
Orlando Man Sentenced to 32 Years for Armed Robbery of CVS and Armed Carjacking
January 10, 2012
Tampa, FL — United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that Miguel Torres (32, Orlando) was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Susan C. Bucklew to 32 years in federal prison for the armed robbery of a Tampa CVS Pharmacy and a subsequent armed carjacking in November 2010. Torres pled guilty on November 2, 2011.More »
Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to More than 16 Years in Federal Prison
January 10, 2012
Jacksonville, FL — United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard, on Friday, sentenced Anthony Terry (35, Jacksonville) to sixteen years and six months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Terry pled guilty on October 1, 2010. Judge Howard found that Terry was a career offender based upon his prior convictions for sale of cocaine and lewd battery.More »
Tampa Field Division Phones are Temporarily Down
January 10, 2012
The Tampa Field Division telephone lines are currently having technical problems and are not operable. If you need to contact this office please call the ATF Joint Support and Operations Center (JSOC) at (800) 800-3855.
Illegal Alien Faces Federal Firearm Charges in Connection with Shooting of 2 Year Old
January 6, 2012
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces the arrest today of Luis Javier Farias-Mendoza (20, Orlando). Farias-Mendoza is charged in a criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. More »
23–Year Old Manatee County Man Sentenced to More than 19 Years in Federal Prison
January 6, 2012
Tampa, Florida — U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez–Covington today sentenced Antwon Stuckey (23, Palmetto) to 235 months (19 years, 7 months) in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Because of his extensive criminal history dating back to age 12, Stuckey was sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Stuckey pled guilty on January 31, 2010.More »
Federal Complaint Filed in Arson of American Family Planning Clinic in Penscola
January 5, 2012
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Bobby Joe Rogers, 41, of Pensacola, has been charged in a federal complaint with one count of Damaging a Building by Fire or Explosive, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i). United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Timothy issued an arrest warrant based on the complaint and supporting affidavit filed today, which charges Rogers with the arson of the American Family Planning Clinic at 6770 North 9th Avenue in Pensacola on Jan. 1. If subsequently indicted by a grand jury and convicted at trial, Rogers faces a possible 20 year prison term.More »
Orlando Man Sentenced to More than 44 Years for Armed Robbery of CVS and Armed Carjacking
January 4, 2012
Tampa, FL — United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces today that Senior United States District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced Joshua Michael Wilkes (29, Orlando) to 44 years and 7 months in federal prison for the armed robbery of a Tampa CVS Pharmacy and subsequent armed carjacking. Wilkes pled guilty on October 25, 2011.More »