Department of Justice

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced James Bailey (33, Plant City) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Bailey to forfeit the firearm and ammunition.

Bailey had pleaded guilty on October 24, 2019.

According to court documents, on March 12, 2019, law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call regarding an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, the officers encountered Bailey and located a loaded sawed-off shotgun, with an obliterated serial number, at the rear of his vehicle. Bailey then fled on foot, but was apprehended after a short foot chase. Following his arrest, Bailey admitted to possessing the firearm. Witnesses also confirmed that Bailey had pointed the shotgun out of his car’s window. Bailey, an 11-time convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Waterman.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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