Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
New York State Parole Absconder Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm
Ocala, FL – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Tevaughn Johnson (29, Jacksonville) to eight years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Johnson had pleaded guilty on May 16, 2022.
According to court records, in January 2019, Johnson was convicted of attempted robbery in New York. He was released from prison and placed on parole in February 2021. In approximately September 2021 Johnson left New York without the permission of his parole office. A warrant was subsequently issued for Johnson’s arrest for violating the terms of his supervision. Deputy United States Marshals located Johnson in Florida. When they attempted to arrest Johnson, he fled on foot and one of the deputy marshals suffered a significant hand injury during a struggle with Johnson. A firearm was located in the vehicle Johnson had been driving, and DNA comparison analysis confirmed the presence of Johnson’s DNA on the firearm.
Johnson has two prior state felony convictions for robbery and attempted robbery. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie K. Boyer and Michael P. Felicetta.
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 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.