Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Zane C. Brassfield (25, Tampa) to two years and four months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brassfield had pleaded guilty on October 22, 2019.

According to court documents, Brassfield brought a .50 caliber rifle to a gun store and attempted to sell the firearm to the licensed dealer. However, store employees declined to purchase the firearm from him. Upon leaving the store, Brassfield left the rifle by a trash can outside, where it was recovered. As a previous convicted felon, Brassfield is 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 Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

###