Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Cody Richard Hawk (51, Ocklawaha) with possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted, Hawk faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, on October 9, 2022, Hawk possessed a Savage Arms rifle and Winchester ammunition. At that time, Hawk had five previous felony convictions, including second-degree murder with a firearm, statutory rape, felon in possession of a handgun, failure to comply with registration law, and possession of methamphetamine. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.