Tampa Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell has sentenced Marqui M. Newton (28, Tampa) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Newton to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense.
Newton had pleaded guilty on October 18, 2019.
According to court documents, Newton was a passenger in a vehicle that fled from officers during a traffic stop. After the car eventually came to a stop, Newton got out of the car and fled on foot behind a building. Officers in a police helicopter observed Newton drop something, and when officers on the ground went to investigate, they discovered a loaded gun with Newton’s fingerprints on it.
As a previously convicted felon, Newton is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Callan Albritton.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. 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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