DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Roger B. Handberg
, United States Attorney

Fort Myers Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Loaded Firearm

FORT MYERS, Fla. — U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jonnetric Devonte Ivey, 30, of Fort Myers, today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Ivey faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on March 22, 2023, Ivey was stopped by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic stop. Ivey made a throwing motion prior to complying with the deputy’s demands. In the same area of the throwing motion, deputies located a loaded Taurus pistol. DNA evidence later linked Ivey to the loaded pistol. At the time, Ivey was a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Ivey agreed to forfeit the loaded pistol as a part of the plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Morgan.

This case is part of 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 of Justice 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 from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

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St. Paul Field Division