DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Middle District of Florida

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, August 20, 2014
A. Lee Bentley, III
, United States Attorney
Contact: William Daniels

Sarasota Man Sentenced to Six Years for Possessing Firearms and Ammunition

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven yesterday sentenced Terrance Timmons (30, Sarasota) to six years in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Timmons to forfeit two firearms and twenty rounds of ammunition. Timmons pleaded guilty on May 20, 2014.

According to court documents, on August 21, 2013, the Sarasota Police Department executed a search warrant at Timmons’ residence related to prior narcotics transactions that occurred there. When detectives searched the residence, they located a black diaper bag containing two loaded firearms and paperwork with Timmons’ name on it. Prior to possessing the firearms and ammunition, Timmons had been convicted of multiple felony offenses. As such, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sarasota Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam M. Saltzman.

It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program – a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Trevor Velinor, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is another example of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to impact violent crime within our communities.

Tampa Field Division