Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore has sentenced Adam Longoria (30, Wimauma) to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Longoria pleaded guilty on September 28, 2016. As part of his plea, he agreed to forfeit any rights to the following items: a Mossberg International 715T (.22 caliber) semi-automatic rifle; a Glock 22 (.40 caliber) pistol; a Glock 43 (9mm) pistol; 15 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition; and a Savage Arms (.22 caliber) rifle.

According to court documents, in March 2015, a detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was using social media to identify illegal firearms sales. The detective observed a Facebook profile in the name of Adam Longoria selling a .22 caliber AR-15 style rifle for $300. He also observed Longoria “throwing” gang hand signs and confirmed that Longoria had been previously documented by HCSO as a Westside Bloods gang member. Additionally, the detective discovered that Longoria was a convicted felon who was currently on federal supervised release, after being released from federal prison for cocaine trafficking.

On March 17, 2015, the detective, working in an undercover capacity, sent Longoria a private Facebook message inquiring about the AR-15. Longoria stated that he still had the rifle for sale and told the deputy to meet him at a Walmart in Plant City.

Once the detective arrived at the location, Longoria advised, by phone, that his “wife” would sell the rifle at another location. Next, the detective met with a woman, who informed the deputy that the rifle was in the back of her vehicle. The detective then retrieved the rifle from the back of the vehicle and paid the female $300. The gun purchased was a Mossberg International 715T (.22 caliber) semi-automatic rifle.

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 Shauna S. Hale.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy.  United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, 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.