Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
Middle District of Florida
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
W. Stephen Muldrow
Contact: William Daniels
Orlando Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years for Possession of a Firearm
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp today sentenced Mario Donate Lockhart (37, Orlando) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Due to his multiple prior felony convictions, he qualified for an increased penalty as an Armed Career Criminal. He pleaded guilty on March 14, 2017.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2016, Lockhart threatened to kill an individual while holding a loaded semiautomatic firearm with a bullet in the chamber. He then pointed the firearm at another individual as officers from the Orlando Police Department arrived on the scene and ordered him to drop the weapon. Lockhart ignored these requests and ran from the officers with the firearm in his hand. He was apprehended a short time later and the firearm was recovered. At the time of the offense, Lockhart had multiple prior felony convictions and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, along with Daryl R. McCrary, 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.
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