Pensacola Man Sentenced to 76 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A Pensacola man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The 76-month sentence handed down to Charleston Pierre Wiggins, 32, of Pensacola, was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
On April 29, 2019, Pensacola Police Department (PPD) responded to a shots fired report in Pensacola, Florida. As a result of its investigation, PPD learned that Wiggins, a convicted felon, and another individual with whom he had a dispute, exchanged gunfire. During the exchange, Wiggins was shot in the leg. The PPD officers who located Wiggins followed a blood trail that led them to the pistol witnesses saw Wiggins carrying as he attempted to flee the area. The officers determined that the firearm, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, was stolen.
“We will vigorously prosecute those whose actions recklessly endanger the public,” U.S. Attorney Keefe said. “This convicted felon chose to arm himself with a firearm and now he will pay the heavy consequences for his actions.”
The case resulted from the investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.
“Reducing violent crime and protecting the public in the communities that we serve is a priority for ATF”, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary, “we will continue to work vigorously with our law enforcement partners to make sure those individuals who commit violent crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case with support from Project Guardian partners, the
Pensacola Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/attorney-general-announces-launch-….
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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