DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Monday, September 20, 2021
Karin Hoppmann
, United States Attorney

Fort Myers Career Criminal Sentenced to Fifteen Years for Firearm Offense

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti has sentenced Larry Lynn Gary (29, Fort Myers) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Gary had pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021.

According to court documents, on August 6, 2020, Gary was a passenger in a vehicle that had been pulled over for a routine traffic infraction by an officer from the Fort Myers Police Department. After exiting the vehicle at the officer’s request, Gary ran from the traffic stop leaving behind a blue bag in the car. A search of the bag revealed a loaded Glock 19 firearm and a bag of fentanyl. Gary was later apprehended by officers with the help of a police K-9. At the time, Gary had multiple prior felony convictions and had recently been released from prison. He is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Myers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Tampa Field Division