Tampa Man Sentenced To 18 Months For Felonious Possession Of Firearm Charge

Tampa, FL - United States District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced Antwan Brown (22, Tampa) to 18 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Brown had pleaded guilty on July 12, 2022. Brown was also ordered to forfeit a Taurus 9mm pistol and eighteen rounds of 9 mm ammunition used in the commission of the offense.

According to court documents, on February 23, 2022, Brown, a convicted felon, was in possession of a Taurus 9mm pistol and 18 rounds of 9 mm ammunition during an Instagram live video. As pictured below, Brown was brandishing the firearm online while traveling in a vehicle in Hillsborough County.

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.

This case was investigated by the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman.