Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Dallas Robinson, Jr. (29, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Robinson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Robinson has also agreed to forfeit a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition, which are traceable to the offense.

According to court documents, on December 26, 2021, in the Rivergrove neighborhood of Tampa, near the intersection of East Sligh Avenue and Rowlett Park Drive, Robinson was traveling as a passenger in a stolen vehicle being driven by another convicted felon. Both men were armed with fully loaded, semi-automatic pistols. Police officers followed the stolen vehicle until Robinson and the driver exited the vehicle. When ordered to stop, both men fled the stolen vehicle on foot, leaving behind their fully loaded pistols. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a loaded black SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol on the driver’s seat, and a loaded black Springfield XDS (HS Produkt) .45 caliber pistol in the passenger side footwell. Latent fingerprints were lifted from the .45 caliber pistol and analyzed by a fingerprint examiner. One latent fingerprint was a match for Robinson. Additionally, officers recovered Robinson’s wallet and Florida identification card that had been left on the passenger seat near the pistol bearing Robinson’s latent print. Robinson and the driver were subsequently arrested.

Robinson had recently served 30 months in federal prison for convictions under the National Firearms Act in a prior federal criminal case, and was released 4 months prior to his arrest in this case.

This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.

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.